U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t. Off-campus Neighborhood Development

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1 U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t Off-campus Neighborhood Development 7 Housing 8 Parking Lot The off-campus neighborhood includes an established residential community and commercial corridor between Tudor Road and E. 40th Avenue. This supports a mixture of institutional, office, commercial and residential uses. Several institutions headquartered in the District own, rent, or are otherwise affiliated with off-campus facilities; e.g., s Horizon House, miscellaneous functions located in Tudor Centre, offices in the Diplomacy Building at Tudor Centre, and Southcentral Counseling Center. 9 Residential to commercial transition 10 Multi-family housing in the neighorhood Numerous private medical offices are located in the off-campus area too. Demand for additional medical office space remains strong. Other commercial development is primarily autooriented strip development along Tudor Road. Revitalization of some existing retail development would provide an opportunity to reorient it toward the District as part of the University Village. 11 Residential cul-de-sac at 42nd 12 Tudor Road retail development Numbers relate the images to locations on the aerial photograph on the preceding page. The current residential population in the District is approximately 3,090 persons (2,000 in the neighborhood excluding the College Gate Neighborhood, 150 at, and 940 at ). has plans for student housing for an additional 40 persons and has plans for 375 persons. also has a limited amount of faculty housing. Additional student and faculty housing is an identified need. The hospitals have identified needs for short-term housing for outpatient treatment and for the families of patients. Utilities Existing utilities in the District include: water, sanitary sewer, electric, natural gas, and telecommunications (telephone and cable) services. Future development will require installation of pressure reducing valves and booster stations to address adequate water pressure. All other utilities are available. 12

2 F r a m e w o r k M a s t e r P l a n Existing Major Utilities Goose Lake COURT University Lake NEIGHBORHOOD 13

3 Universities & Medical District Open Space & the Natural Environment The natural features of the District are well documented in the 1980 Anchorage Bowl Resources Atlas, the 1983 Goose Lake Plan, and the 1991 Master Plan. 13 Chester Creek 15 Goose Lake recreation 16 Mosquito Lake and the hill beyond 14 Utility Easement...and bird habitat Tudor Lake 18 University Lake stocked for recreation 20 Chester Creek Bridge 21 Trail The District s unique geographical areas have been identified for their commonly recognized aesthetic qualities and include the Hill (with an elevation of 100 ) and the hill on the Trust properties (with an elevation of 60 ). In addition, there are four lakes and at least 12 stands of predominantly black spruce trees, 50 to 100 years of age. The 1983 Goose Lake Plan identified the general development suitability criteria for the District that are consistent with the wetlands and floodplains classifications (see diagram opposite). Major wetlands in the area are adjacent to Chester Creek and the South Fork of Chester Creek. The trail system in the District is extensive and includes both multi-use paved and unpaved trails used for jogging, skiing, bicycling, and dog sled mushing (see diagram opposite). The highest bicycle and pedestrian activity is between and the Consortium Library, and between the Campus and student housing at Bragaw and Chester Creek. The District s wildlife, including moose, wander the wetlands and heavily wooded tracts. The lakes provide valuable habitat for birdlife: land around Goose Lake provides nesting areas for loons, Mosquito Lake is frequented by goshawks and great horned owls, and the University Lake islands provide nesting places for geese and shorebirds. University Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for public sport fishing as an adjunct to use of the public park. Numbers relate images to locations on the aerial photograph on page University Lake Trail Trail along existing east utility easement

4 F r a m e w o r k M a s t e r P l a n Existing Natural Features A Wetlands require a Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and are not developable. CHESTER CREEK MOSQUITO LAKE B Wetlands require a Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and may be developed within a management strategy. C Wetlands must meet General Permits and Wetlands Plan and may be developed. Existing Trail System BLVD OVERPASS BLVD OVERPASS U.A.A. MALLARD LANE COURTSCOTER LANE ALUMNI DR MOSQUITO LAKE UNIVERSITY DR DR CHESTER CREEK AMBASSADOR DR OVERPASS 15

5 U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t District Circulation The District accounts for approximately 4 to 5% of all trips in the Anchorage Bowl. This total includes approximately 4% of all work-related trips, 40% of education-related trips, and 25% of medical trips. 24 Pedestrian Underpass 26 Enclosed Walkway 28 Entry to District at Providence Drive 30 Intersection of Alumni Dr. and Providence Dr Pedestrian overpass 27 Security fence along 29 Ambassador - Entry to Tudor Centre 31 40th Ave border with adjacent neighborhood Numbers relate images to locations on the aerial photograph on page 11. The District has numerous travel demands (through trips, internal trips, and recreational trips) and trip types to or from destinations elsewhere (auto, transit, bicycle and pedestrian). The existing intersections at Tudor/Bragaw and Tudor/Lake Otis currently operate at F level of service, indicating an unacceptable level of congestion during peak periods (see diagram opposite). Other intersections may decline to that level unless improvements are made or the growth in vehicle trips is stemmed. In June 2003, the East Anchorage Study of Transportation (EAST) recommendations were completed. A Bragaw Street extension through the District was not recommended. The study found that additional access into the District would be needed from the or east within the next 20 years. The EAST study recommendations will be considered in the Anchorage Bowl Long-Range Transportation Plan update process. The District is one of the best-served public transit areas in the Municipality. Nine routes serve the District (see diagram opposite) currently. A total of 260 People Mover trips go into the U-Med District daily. This accounts for over half of People Mover daily trips in the Municipality. The highest ridership destinations are currently and. A transit center that could serve both of these destinations has been recommended in a recently completed transportation study. It will be important to coordinate the location and configuration of the transit center with pedestrian and vehicular circulation patterns. The U-Pass program, which targets university students and staff, accounts for over 900 transit rides per day, significantly reducing traffic congestion and parking demand. Surface parking in the District has consumed a significant portion of the developable land area. Structured parking has been developed at and adjacent to the recent library addition. has reviewed their parking needs in their master plan. The redevelopment of existing underutilized parking areas and the improvement of parking area landscaping have been identified as issues that are addressed in their Master Plan.

6 F r a m e w o r k M a s t e r P l a n Existing Vehicle Circulation U.A.A. 39,000 Veh # Veh 32,500 Veh 24,500 Veh COURT 24,600 Veh 25,800 Veh MALLARD LANE SCOTER LANE ALUMNI DR 5,500 Veh UNIVERSITY DR DR AMBASSADOR DR 49,600 Veh 42,000 Veh Existing Transit Circulation #, # 3, 4, 45 U.A.A. 3, 4, 11 COURT 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 36, 45 2, 3, 4, 11, 36, AMBASSADOR DR 11, 75 12, 75 2, 75 17

7 U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t Significant Findings The Background Study suggests that major issues the Master Plan should address include: Preserving and protecting sensitive natural features and wildlife habitat areas; The District wildlife includes moose, Sustaining an environment that will enable institutions to grow and be competitive; Improving circulation for all modes to the District and within it; Improving comfort and convenience for transit users, including access to transit stops; loons, and owls. Adding pedestrian linkages and amenities to make walking a safe and convenient option; and Providing commercial uses that complement the functions of the institutions and serve the needs of those who inhabit them. 18