B. DEVELOPMENT PREMISES AND CONSIDERATIONS
Incorporation of the public skyway system into private development and building ownership presents some unique implications for the public, owners, and developers. With recognition of the public and private interests involved in the skyway system, certain premises have been established relating to the system, and these premises are basic to the regulations and development criteria established for the skyway system as set forth in the succeeding section. The following premises apply to the entire skyway system, even though portions of the system may be built by private building owners or developers:
1. The skyway system is an above-ground pedestrian system. It is one component of a larger downtown transportation system, which also includes tunnels, arcades and other forms of at-grade, weather-protected pathways. While this policy addresses the elevated skyway system only, the vitality of downtown depends on maintaining a balance between at-grade and non-at-grade pedestrian systems, and fostering investment and activity at all levels. As currently conceived, the skyway system is the dominant non-at-grade-system in downtown.
2. The skyway system will be entirely enclosed and capable of being heated and cooled to temperatures comparable to that maintained in adjacent office and retail areas, and in compliance with Chapter 140 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code. The term "enclosed" will mean protected from the weather, though the area of the skyway system need not necessarily be confined by its own walls. The concourse corridors and bridges will be constructed with a minimum width of 12'- 0" unless, in the judgment of the City, physical limitations of existing buildings, such as column spacing, fixed vertical element locations, window opening, etc., render the 12'- 0" width impractical, or would constitute an undue hardship to the owner. In such instances, a lesser width, to be approved by the City, may be allowed.
<snip>
5. The skyway system must have a design identity of its own, distinguishing it from other areas with public access within buildings as an aid to citizens in finding their way throughout the system. Further, where there is a public easement in the skyway system, it must be possible to readily identify those public areas so that citizens are cognizant of the location of the skyway path. The system must possess directional clarity and be accessible, identifiable and continuous.
<snip>
D. DESIGN AND MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS
The skyway system's identity, design consistency, and ease of orientation are necessary if the skyway system is to function effectively. The City has established design and materials requirements for the skyway system and its five elements: concourse corridors, nodes, bridges, bridge support structures and vertical access facilities. The design of the skyway system within each block will adhere to these requirements. Two major components of the skyway system, bridges and the concourses/nodes, need to be treated differently. While the exterior design and materials of the bridges will stress uniformity and consistency throughout the downtown, the concourse corridors and nodes will provide a variety of experiences for the skyway pedestrian. Nothing in these requirements will prohibit or excuse any element of the system from complying with pertinent local, state and federal requirements, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Chapter 140 (Skyway Conduct) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, Chapter 12 (Public Art and Design) of the Saint Paul Administrative Code, Chapter 73 (Heritage Preservation Commission) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, the State Building Code, the Citys Design for Public Safety Initiative, etc.
1. Concourse Corridors
Concourse corridors will run through a block from building face to building face connecting to a skyway bridge. The primary public purpose of such concourse corridors in the accommodation of pedestrian travel from point to point, and, as such, a minimum width of 12'-0" is established for such elements.
Concourse corridors will be light, airy, animated civic places with memorable character. Long, blank-walled corridors will be avoided. The pedestrian will encounter a variety of design experiences while traversing the system.
(a) Skyway System Symbol - A graphic symbol has been developed for the skyway system. Such symbol will be used to indicate the location of the skyway system within the building in a manner approved by the City, and on such skyway signage as the City may provide. No other use of the symbol will be permitted.
<snip>
5. Vertical Access Facilities - Vertical access facilities in the form of stairs, escalators and elevators provide access to the concourse nodes, corridors, and the bridges from the street. Vertical access between the concourse and street level is required throughout the skyway system, with escalators or elevators 13
being required at the principal points of access to the skyway system. Elevators are encouraged in order to retain accessibility of the skyway system to all persons. Generally, vertical access will be provided at or near each end of the bridges crossing streets and may also is required at other locations within the system. Vertical access points will be adequately signed so that the pedestrian can both visually and physically connect the skyway system to the ground. New buildings that will connect to the skyway system will be designed to clearly show the vertical connection between the skyway and the ground.
<snip>
G. EASEMENT REQUIREMENTS
In order to assure a public benefit from the public investment made in development of the skyway system in the downtown, all areas of the skyway system must be located either on public property or within a public easement granted by the developer or building owner. Such easements will be coterminous with the designated areas of concourse corridors, nodes and vertical access facilities and will extend on the ground floor from the foot of vertical access facilities to a public sidewalk or other public property, giving access to a public sidewalk. Such easements will be required for both those skyway system elements for which the City is responsible and those elements constituting a link in the basic system for which private parties may be responsible. The easements will be in form satisfactory to the City and will be limited to the life of the improvements constituting the skyway system. The easements will grant to the public the right of use of the skyway system for purposes of ingress and egress and pedestrian transit without limitation, except that such easements may attach reasonable conditions regarding closing parts or all of the skyway system within the developer's or owner's structural improvements during non-business hours as dictated by reasonable security requirements of the buildings through with the concourse passes. The City will attempt to negotiate 24 hour easements.
In order to assure the possibility of future expansion of the skyway system, when a building is connected to the skyway system the developer or building owner will grant to the City an easement which assumes expansion of the system beyond the building and/or block immediately being connected.
The developer or building owner will have the right at any time to change the locations or alignments of such easements provided that 1) new easements are granted which permit the continuity of the skyway system; 2) the developer or owner installs a new pedestrian concourse on the new easement area at the developer's or owner's sole cost and expense; and 3) the new easement meets the Citys minimum requirements for width, height, etc.
In the event the developer or owner elects to substitute a new easement location, it will submit to the City an easement survey and legal description thereof, the plans and specifications therefore, and proof of ability to pay and method of payment therefore for City approval. The City will have 90 days after the submission in which to approve or reject the proposal. If the City rejects the proposal, it must do so in writing within the 90-day period and, in such writing, set forth in detail the valid reasons for such rejections. In the event the City fails to reject the proposal within said 90-day period, the City's consent will be conclusively presumed. The City will not be required to approve any change in easement location unless the easement to be submitted contains at least the same area and dimensions of the existing easement; and the improvements are of the same character, quality and functional characteristics of the initial concourse, including replacement of signs, graphics and furniture provided in the original skyway system. When the City approves the substitution, the parties will then join in the execution and delivery of an amendatory agreement in recordable form which designates the substitute location and terminates the easement over the old location effective upon completion of the construction of the new concourse and skyway system.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
The skyway system, including all future additions, is located on public property or within public easements. As such the City has a proprietary obligation for operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of the skyway system. Nevertheless, the City will require, as part of the easement agreement, that the developer or building owner assume the full responsibility for the operation, maintenance, repair and replacement for all segments of the skyway system located within its property, for bridges over streets abutting its property, and carry out such operation, maintenance, repair and replacement at its own expense without cost to the City. In the event that the developer or building owner fails to operate, maintain, repair or replace the concourse system, or any part thereof, in compliance with Chapter 140 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, the City may perform such operations and assess all costs incurred in so doing against the developer or building owner in accordance with the normal procedures for assessments related to sidewalk maintenance, repair and replacement in the City of Saint Paul.
Where skyway bridges connect the property of one developer or owner with that of another, the developers or owners may share equally, or on whatever other basis is mutually agreeable, the bridge operation, maintenance, repair and replacement costs. Public liability and casualty insurance coverage including required surety bonds indemnifying and holding harmless the City will be included as part of this operation/maintenance agreement between connecting developer(s) or owner(s). Such written agreement must be submitted to the City for review prior to commencement of bridge construction.
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)
Facebook
Twitter