| DETAIL
STUDIES
|
|
| New
Karner Mixed-Use Center Initial Approach The area around the intersection of New Karner Road and Central Avenue creates one of a few opportunities along the Corridor for a major reuse and redevelopment area. The other areas are similar in their existing use - regional retail - but are smaller in size and not as parcelized. The New Karner area has been defined to include several parcels to the west and north of the major retail shopping areas that are underutilized. The illustrative plans that have been prepared show the build-out of the Stimulated Scenario (the Intermediate Scenario would cover less land area and not include the eastern residential neighborhood). |
 |
| In
the alternative prepared for the Urban Typologies
Workshop the major retail buildings remained with the
K-Mart being reused for "back-office"
employment. A boulevard with local accessways would be
developed on Central Avenue with 2 to 3 story mixed-use
buildings fronting onto the street. To the north of these
offices are apartments that front onto adjacent rural
open space. The area to the west of the Colonie Plaza was
redeveloped as a mixed-density residential neighborhood
with mixed-use buildings fronting onto Central Avenue.
Feedback and Revisions The major issues that were raised during the Urban Typologies Workshop included the existence of large areas of surface parking without buildings lining adjacent streets, the lack of connectivity for pedestrians along streets and the open space system, the location of a large part of the new neighborhood on top of potentially contaminated soils, and a lack of connections to surrounding employment and housing. The redesign of the area has created more pedestrian-oriented streets in the retail center reuse area and includes a hotel at the modern roundabout between the neighborhood and the center. A village green has been added at the south end of the "main street across from Price Chopper and adjacent to the street which connects to the neighborhood green in the residential area. The photo-simulations show the view from the transit stop on the north side of Central Ave/NY5 looking toward Price Chopper. In the new neighborhood, a small civic building would house things like a day care center, community center, or religious facilities and would front onto the neighborhood green. An office would be located in the area where soils were analyzed and any contamination removed. Additional pedestrian and bicycle linkages to the surrounding neighborhoods and employment areas would be created. The potential for improving pedestrian crossings of New Karner would also be considered.
Go to the >> Woodlawn Plaza Detailed Study |
|
