1. STOWE TOWNSHIP
A place for culture, cuisine and community:
An exercise in ‘placemaking’ and ‘community branding’
Ruchie Kothari
Mugdha Mokashi
Nicole Muise-Kielkucki

2. Project Process
Wayfinding
Initial Scope SWOT Analysis
System
‘Placemaking Existing/Ongoing Proposed Vision
Proposed Vision
Process’ Plans
Stowe:
Community
‘A place for cuisine, culture and
Engagement
community’
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3. Location and Demographics
Stowe: Location and Demographics
BELLEVUE • Situated along Ohio River
• Neighboring Kennedy
Township and McKees Rocks
STOWE
• Stowe CBD is located on
Broadway Street between 5th
Business District
Street and 9th Street
KENNEDY • Well Connected to Pittsburgh
Downtown
McKEES ROCKS
- 10min drive from downtown
Pittsburgh (6.8miles)
- Bus every ½ hour
PITTSBURGH
Stowe
Township
Demographics:
Population: ~6700
Median Household Income:$29,688
19.9% less than 18
7.2% aged 18 to 24 Poverty Level:13% below poverty line
27.1% aged 25 to 44
22.7% aged 45 to 64 Pittsburgh
Home Ownership: Just over 50%
23.1% aged 65 +
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4. History Stowe: History
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5. Stowe: Walkability
Rich in Basic Amenities
Pedestrian Friendly
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6. Stowe: Amenities within 0.5 mile radius
PNC Bank
PNC Bank
Family Dollar
US Post office
BUT
Family Dollar No Parks!
US Post Office
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7. Stowe CBD Location
Stowe: Amenities within 0.1 mile radius
Stores and Markets Restaurants and Food-Outlets
Grocery
Restaurants
Hardware Store
Dentist
Optician
Theater
School
Church
Bookstore
Recreational, Educational and Religious Activities
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8. Stowe: Historical Character
Churches
Buildings
Craftwork
Memorials
• Historic fabric still intact.
• Simple, straight-forward facades with geometric ornaments
• Influence of craftsmen movement evident in the façade design
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9. Stowe: Gaps and Opportunities
Visual vacancy
Cluttered
more than actual Covered tree-pits
storefronts
vacancy
Existing businesses Litter Youth
Active community Lack of trees Excessive signage
Safety New businesses History
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10. Existing/Ongoing Plans
Stowe Strategic Plan Community Activities
• Job creation
• Business district
improvement
• Develop anchor institutions
• Attract
manufacturing, wholesale
‘Easter’ on Broadway
‘Christmas’ on Broadway
Stowe Streetscape Plan Business Development Plan ‘Vintage Cars’ on Broadway
Halloween Trick or treat
Memorial Day Parade
Summer Fair
• Foster’s community goodwill
• Activities for children and adults
• Use existing resources
• Overall CBD beautification • Follow Allegheny Restores
• Aesthetics guidelines
• Safety • Business development plan Want More!
• Retain historic & community • Welcome packet for new
oriented identity businesses
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11. What should be done now?
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12. Stakeholders
Community
Members
connected to aim to serve
reps of/
Stowe BDAC Other Business
liaisons to Owners
advises support initiatives of
Allegheny Sponsors, Fun Project Managers &
Together ders Planning Teams
Pittsburgh History and
Landmarks Foundation
Civil & Environmental
Consultants, Inc.
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13. Stakeholder Engagement
Activities undertaken to engage Stakeholders :
1. Presentation to Stowe BDAC
2. Interviews with key business owners
3. Community Charrette @ ‘Easter on Broadway’
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14. Community Feedback
Community Likes Community Wants
• Authenticity and Diversity
• Parks
• United Community
• Clean Streets and Improved Sidewalks
• Safety
• More Recreational Activities
• Activities for Children
• More Community Parking
• Place for Gatherings
“ Where I grew up. It was great. Would like to see our town back like it was.”
“ Would love to see the streets cleaner and it would be a great place to walk.”
“ Stowe is a nice place to me. It cares about the kids
and it is a friendly place for kids to grow up at.”
“ a bad place for kids. poor little town. it could be a
“ Home to me!” better place – more activities, parks. make it look
nicer ”
“ On the verge of a RESURGENCE. But teetering on an abyss.”
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15. SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
walkability of neighborhood reputation as unsafe
community oriented town litter, storefront disrepair
solid group of core businesses vacant properties
dedicated and involved leadership
Opportunities Threats
potential new market in art, culture, cuisine general decline in Pittsburgh's outer areas
low barriers to entry for new business competition from nearby towns
proximity to downtown, sports attractions low visibility of Stowe within larger landscape
youth population’s desire to be involved sparse funding opportunities
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16. The proposed vision
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17. Vision
“Stowe as a place for cuisine, culture and community”
The vision integrates the identified community strengths and
wishes to create a platform for future growth…
Cuisine Culture Community
?!
Two Questions that need answers:
Is this the RIGHT vision?
And HOW do we implement this vision?
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18. Recommendations
Three Principles Guide our Recommendations:
• Involve and Engage the Community – Especially the Youth
• Comprehensively Market the Community Brand – “Everyone to Know”
• Use Existing and Potential Assets – For Easy Implementation
Separated as Policy, Program and Project to ease implementation and identify funding
Policy Program Project
• Wayfinding System:
• Placemaking Events
• Install Signage
• Youth Workshops
• Adopt a Charter • Wine-Theater-Food
• Create Brochures
• Create Web-Site
Festival
• Public Art Installations
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19. 1. Conduct a ‘Placemaking’ Event
• Most Important
Recommendation – To
be Implemented First
• The „brand‟ depends
on the community
• Essential to continue
dialogue with the
community
• Present vision and
incorporate feedback
into the vision
• Opportunity to use the
event to create public
art installations
I Live In…
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20. 2. Adopt a Charter
• Helps reinforce community vision
• Provides the policy makers, business leaders and We are „Stowe Township‟
community with an overarching direction
Vision:________________________
• Helps the community feel like it has a real stake in
Our Principles:__________________
the development
Our Goal:____________________:__
• Helps portray community commitment to
potential sponsors, business owners, housing Our Responsibilities:
investors etc
Council:_______________________
• To be implemented second Community:____________________
All of Us:_______________________
Pledge and Commitment
XXX XXX
BDAC 1 Policymaker
XXX XXX
Youth Senior Citizens
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21. 3. Develop a Comprehensive Way-finding System
Wayfinding is a process which consists of
navigational elements to assist visitors in
an unfamiliar environment
a. Wayfinding Requirements
External
To get people into
the community
Stage 1 Stage 3
Goals
To help people find
Internal
activities within the
community
Stage 2 Stage 5
b. Signage Requirements
• Gateway Signs • Pedestrian Signs
• Proximity • Banners
Destination Signs • Regulatory Signs
Stage 4
• Trailblazer Signs • Kiosks
c. Theme Based Signage
• GREAT opportunity for community
branding
• Important to brand existing wayfinding
elements such as web-
sites, maps, brochures etc using new Implementation Order
theme
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22. 3. Develop a Comprehensive Way-finding System
a. Install Signage for External Wayfinding
2
1
Install Gateway Sign 1
Paint Walls 2
3
Install Kiosks 3
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23. 3. Develop a Comprehensive Way-finding System
b. Install Signage for Internal Wayfinding
4
2
A
Mazottas Market 3 2 Proximity Destination Signs
Blue Eagle 1
Fox’s Pizza
Parkway Theatre
2 Mancinis Bakery
Parkway Theatre
Marge’s Place
Lynn’s Cafe
1
1
B
Trailblazer Signs Kiosks
C
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24. 3. Develop a Comprehensive Way-finding System
c. Install Theme Based Integrated Signage
What sign did the community pick?
Glamour Natural
Classic Gateway
Existing Signage: Suggestions:
• Faded Signs • New theme based colorful banners
• No common theme • Attach to Existing Posts Using
• Too Many Brackets
• Community wants NEW • Changeable Banners
+ MODERN • Combine „Banners‟ and „Trailblazer‟
Signs
• FRESH + MODERN +
Festive The Winner – By 2 Votes
HISTORICAL
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25. 4. Develop marketing for Existing and Future Businesses
a. Develop an uniform on-line presence: Stowe Web-site
Theme based marketing:
‘Food as culture’
• Use wayfinding to direct
outside visitors to Food
Attractions
• Develop a Food and Art
Festival
• Provide opportunities
and guidelines for new
food businesses
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26. 4. Develop marketing for Existing and Future Businesses
b. Develop brochures with activities for visitors
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27. 5. Promote future businesses using the vision plan
a. Continue with current marketing b. Build off from existing businesses in
programs for theater neighboring communities
• Parkway Theater, Stowe • Father Ryan‟s Performing Arts
Theater, McKees Rocks
• Small Café (wine, craft beer &
cheese)
• Theater • Art, Music and Dance Studios
• Workshop Spaces • Art Gallery
• Informal Art Gallery • Theater
• Nightlife hub in conjunction with • Café
future „evening restaurant • Conference Room
Planned Activities: Current Activities:
• Music Venue (jazz club) • Summer Peace Camp
• Independent Movie Viewings • Dance, Music, Visual Arts Workshops
• Theater Workshops • Childcare Services
• Set for Advertisements, Films • Studio/ Conference Rental Services for
• Plays Schools, Businesses, Community, Professional, Weddings
Street Play • Art Themed Parties
Possible activities to market
theater till opening day: Benefits:
•Street Plays
•Street Art Workshops
• Interesting activities for toddlers, preschoolers, youth and
teens, adults
Possible Venue: Municipal Building
• Opportunity for volunteer and civic engagement
parking lot, Broadway Street Street Art • New job opportunities
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28. 5. Develop Spaces for Public Art – USP ‘Green Art’ and/or ‘Art Deco’
Opportunity to…
• Create town asset
• Involve community
• Low-cost visual
improvement to
CBD
1
3 • Link to proposed
community
branding
2
Attractive storefront on CBD
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29. Resources
Communities that have implemented similar visions successfully
Funding and Institutional Resources
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30. Questions?
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