Riverfront as an Economic Engine
Priyasha Shrestha
People tend to have a natural affinity to water -- thus, riverfronts can be enormous economic assets to any city with access to them. The Kansas River welcomes visitors to Manhattan at the gateway to the city and is yet to realize its potential for the economic boost for the city. This project identifies the types of development that are required for the city of Manhattan and the types that are most profitable for a riverfront: residential, commercial, industrial, and tourism-based. These have been incorporated into the current Midwest Concrete Materials site as mixed use development and apartment buildings, which are tied together by an urban plaza and amphitheater. Creating a niche destination for the people of Manhattan to gather while taking advantage of views and access to the river, the project aims to gain economic benefit for the people, the developers, and the city.
Figure 1.1 Site Plan
Figure 1.2 Section through the plaza
Figure 1.4 Activity in the Upper Plaza
The plaza is designed to host an array of activities such as social and community gatherings, farmers markets and concerts. The levels that have been incorporated into the design of the plaza allow for the layering of these activities. The plaza space is bordered by retail shops and restaurants, which bolster the number of people that visit the space, and thus add to the revenue generated from the development.
Figure 1.5 Amphitheater
The amphitheater, which has been designed as a part of the plaza is envisioned to host concerts, as well as become a lively place for meeting, gathering, shopping and eating. The steps lead to the upper plaza, which connects the visitors to the viewing deck. Th is deck offers the visitors with alluring views of the river, as well as an accessible access route down to the river edge journeying through a series of interconnected plazas leading to the riverfront. This design is intended to boost the tourism of Manhattan and generate income for the people and the city.
Figure 14.3 Detailed Walk Through
References
Cover Figure
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Figures 1.1& 1.3
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Figure 1.2
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