Mapping a City

In 1960 Kevin Lynch wrote the notorious "Image of the City". While dated, it still provides the backbone for urban planners/designers to map the city. Most local residents never really sit down and think about how the physical form of a place creates perceptions and interactions, especially for the first time visitor. We used the term "cultural asset" at our meetings, which is typically identified as a place, site, or "thing". Yet the context of a place is created by the combination of those cultural assets. Most of Lynch's work sites the old European towns which used town squares, streets, and various other objects to ensure the "cultural assets" stand out. In fact, a lot of these issues emerged during the the Vision 2020 process.

Here are some things to keep in mind when editing the map. Here's an article explaining the Lynch model more.

The District

Although the district has been identified, keep in mind what visitors see when they enter downtown. Is the bayou a physical boundary? What about other physical identification that can be used? The intersection of Barataria Avenue and Main Street (to me) is the point I feel like I'm entering downtown from the north (west actually). The road gives views into downtown, along with the bayou. When someone comes downtown, they make a decision to stop, turn, or continue. How is this physical boundary created to the west? Is it less apparent because it transitions slowly into the neighborhood? That aspect may be important because those neighborhoods are the people most invested in downtown. 

Landmarks

This can be anything. To me, two types of landmarks exists: local landmarks and "apparent" landmarks. For example, the cathedral is very apparent and central to any town in Southern Louisiana. This aspect is unique to the rest of the USA because the central landmark is usually a government building. However, the French used Cathedrals which is why many people in the USA consider Southern Louisiana cities more "European". However, there are also other landmarks that local residents use. What are those landmarks? How can they be identified for outside visitors?

Paths and Edges

Path's and edges can be created by streets, pedestrian ways, public squares, etc. Path and edges should be used to exemplify the landmarks and district in general. As an "outsider", I think Church Street creates a great path and view vista and should be grounded in making downtown feel like a place. Standing on the Church Street Bridge, the view of the cathedral, square, and bayou should be exemplified. What are other areas downtown that create this visual appeal? The bayou? Main Street?

Think about these things and begin marking up the map. Google Maps isn't the "best" mapping tool. But it will allow us to start getting initial thoughts to create a "good" map.

Also, don't recreate the wheel. Just make it better. Look at Vision 2020, the Main Street Program, the Historic District, and the Downtown Development Corporation. Also, keep in mind opportunities that exists  The Arts Council has already identified areas and projects that will achieve physical identity downtown. Think about other projects happening around the county. 

With that said, I've added my initial thoughts to the map (remember I'm an "outsider" looking in). What's your position and perspective? Add that to the map. This is a draft of a draft. So nothing is minor, and might lead to bigger thoughts.