KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The presentation was a look at a draft landscape master plan which is a part of the downtown water, sewer and storm drain master plan.
Landscape architect Kevin Doniere heads the architect department for Dowl HKM in Anchorage.
— (Landscape 1 "The draft landscape …utilities are replaced.")
The focus of the project is pedestrian circulation through downtown, making improvements to the mall area, improvements to the pocket park and what’s being called "artist alley," the alley behind Norman’s.
— (Landscape 2 "The concept that … that’s around there.")
The master plan drawings present a downtown Kodiak that is considerably more "pulled together."
— (Landscape 3 "As part of …throughout downtown.")
At the city council work session Doniere was asked if any parking places would be lost to the proposed design. He said that in certain areas, such as the mall, more parking spaces have been added; from 84 up to 94. There are also some areas where parking spaces have been trimmed back.
Doniere thinks that by strategically adding and subtracting parking places some of the heavier use areas could be better accommodated.
Another concern, which was expressed by Councilman Tom Walters, was the pocket park. He explained that the small downtown park has a bad reputation as a hiding place for unwelcome activity. Doniere said that a good design could make the park safer.
— (Landscape 4 "I think the … to loiter in")
Dowl HKM will now incorporate the council’s comments into their design. They’ll also take a close look at all zoning issues and regulations before finalizing the landscape master plan. Once the plan is finished, the City of Kodiak will post it to it’s website.
