Deena Winter: Initial design thoughts on arena
Lincoln Journal Star
December 16, 2009
Two city committees will be looking over the arena and associated development designs as Lincoln moves closer to a spring vote on whether to build the arena.
The Urban Design Committee and the Historic Preservation Commission have been meeting jointly to examine the designs and goals laid out in what's called the West Haymarket Integrated Development Plan, which is like a master plan for the arena project.
They recommended the integrated development plan be updated, however, because much has changed since it was released in July.
So far, here are some of their recommendations:
- They would like to jointly review arena projects at an early (conceptual) point and "more well-developed stages."
- They would "welcome" an executive order from the mayor to clarify the design review process for what they called a "unique and monumental project." They offered to review project components with the city and private developers and advise the mayor and city departments on whether they meet the "community principles" and the integrated development plan.
- They oppose traffic roundabouts planned in the Haymarket at Seventh and Q and Seventh and R streets. "Four-way stops are more typical of Haymarket and are usually regarded as more pedestrian-friendly than the continuous vehicular movement provided by roundabouts," they said.
- They do not want traffic to go through the Haymarket during major events. The integrated development plan sort of indicates traffic would be blocked from taking newly extended R and Q streets, but the committee said "a strong public statement of commitment is essential."
- They "strongly recommend" zoning as B-4 (Lincoln Center Business District) the redevelopment area west of the Haymarket with height limits similar to the Haymarket's.
- They recommend new construction west of the Haymarket be "complementary in materials, scale and design" but not mimic the Haymarket. "West Haymarket should be clearly respectful to and reflective of its adjacency to Haymarket ... while achieving contemporary design excellence," they said.
- They like the idea of renovating and incorporating the historic canopy west of Lincoln Station into the new development, and they said any removal of part of the canopy should be "carefully reviewed, justified and mitigated."
- Same goes for any relocation of Locomotive 710 near the Amtrak station.
- They want the Humane Society water fountain at Seventh and Q streets to be preserved and "well-located" if it must be moved.
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.
