Alley revitalization is becoming more widely acknowledged as a viable urban redevelopment strategy in United States cities. Currently, most alleys in U.S. cities are underutilized, and they evoke a number of negative images—fearful places, waste-strewn, stinky, etc. The successful revitalization of alleys presents many benefits, such as economic development, enhanced walkability, visual enhancement, reduction of crime, etc. Revitalization of alleys leads to more productive and effective utilization of public space. In fact, cities in many countries have long utilized alleys as places where many aspects of ordinary daily life of the city take place. However, the potentials of alleys and the approaches that other cities have utilized to creatively revitalize alleys are not widely known, especially in the U.S. This thesis presents multiple cases of alley revitalization, mainly in the U.S., Australia, and Japan. Based on analysis of these cases, types of alley revitalization are categorized, and general design ideas and strategies for achieving the desired characteristics in each type of alley are presented. The intention of this thesis is to provide a tool for decision makers who are interested in implementing alley revitalization projects. Utilizing the knowledge gained from the review of alley revitalization cases, the author proposes alternative ideas for the revitalization of a selected downtown alley in Lincoln, Nebraska.

1. A THESIS
Major: Community and
Regional Planning
Professor. Gordon Scholz
Dr. Yunwoo Nam
Dr. Rodrigo Cantarero

2. History of Alleys
Early nineteen
century
Late nineteen
century
• Water, police, gas, and electricity,
mass produced access, and access to
the rear
• Automobile (increase and bigger)
• Many thousands of lots (minimum
accesses and minimum utilities)
• Garbage (Unfavorable Places)
Source: Site Unseen: Toronto Laneway
Architecture and Urbanism (2004)

3. Problem facing alleys
• Awareness of the
potential for
revitalization of
alleys
• Financial Costs
• Crime
• Land Use
• Maintenance
• Water treatment

4. Research Questions
• How cities can enliven human economic
and social activities by revitalizing
alleys
• How alleys could contribute to city life
• How strategies for alley revitalization
have been successfully implemented in
a number of cities
• How similar strategies could be
transferred to alleys in Lincoln
• How alleys in the City of Lincoln could
be improved and, therefore, how alleys
could contribute to city life

5. Research methodology
•
•
•
•
Hypothesis (What will be the most influential on
the alley strategies)
Types and Criteria (Frequency on case studies
and literature review)
Case Study (collected by Online, Articles,
Reports, Journals, and Books)
Analysis (Table and Sheets): Target of analysis
will be more than 6 cases on each hypothesis
• Analysis Results
• What is the most influential hypothesis on
each type and criterion
• Create the alley revitalization type
• Define Successful Alley (Case study and
literature review)
• Revitalization of Alleys in Lincoln (3
alternatives)

6. Case Study
36 cases of projects and 29 cases of individual alleys
List of Projects
Sample of table
List of individual alleys

7. Types of Alley Project
Green Infrastructure (Project)
Green Infrastructure (Alley)
Frequency on case studies
•
•
•
•
•
Green Infrastructure
Retails
Art
Events
Maintenance

8. Criteria of Project type
Paving (Project)
Frequency on case studies and literature review
•
•
•
•
Paving (Alley)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paving
Lighting
Canopies
Opening
Façade
Identity
Furniture
Bollard
Water runoff
On-site water
treatment
Steps
Colors
Setback
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Building Height
Lines
Trash removal/enclosure
Trees or Plants
Banning motor vehicles
Cultural Involvement
Vendor
Recycling
Gathering places or
centers
Network for pedestrians
and bicyclists
Noise control
Recycled materials

9. Case Study Analysis Result
• The green infrastructure and
maintenance types are individually
distinct; however, retail, events, and
art are sometimes collaborated
• Project in the U.S. are relatively
newer and are likely to focus on
sustainability due to the recent
trend (Green Infrastructure) and
variety of district, on the other hand,
projects in other countries are more
likely to focus on economic
development (retails)

10. Alley Project Type
Residential District
Art, Cultural/Historical
District District
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Commercial District
Mixed Use District
Residential
District
Commercial
District
Art,
Cultural/Historica
l District
Mixed Use
District
Multiple Alleys
Parking Alley
Temporary Idea
Originally
Arranged Alley

11. Alley Project Type
Multiple Alley
•
•
Originally Arranged Alley
•
•
Temporary Idea
•
•
•
•
Residential
District
Commercial
District
Art,
Cultural/Historica
l District
Mixed Use
District
Multiple Alleys
Parking Alley
Temporary Idea
Originally
Arranged Alley

12. Potential Benefits
Walkability
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Walkability
Accessibility
Economic development
More beautiful cities
Reduction of crime rate
Additional Store Frontages
Places for Children, Elderly,
and Community
Events and Cultural
Activities
Protection of Sun, Rain, and
Snow
Escape from City
Sustainability
Unique Experience

13. Successful Alleys
• Involve communities
• Consider characteristics of alleys such as
human Scale and less access of automobiles
• Try to achieve some of urban design purposes
such as economic development, international,
development, environmental sustainability, and
fecund urban environment
• Decide purposes and goals
• Must not over design
• Make the place unique with history of
utilization
• Make it stimulus to other goals and other
projects

14. Alley Project in Lincoln
Walkscore
Lincoln
• Demographics
• Walkscore
• Hot Spot of
Crime in Lincoln

15. Alley Project in Lincoln
Project around Downtown Area
Width of Alley
Downtown
• Projects around Downtown
Area
• Grid Pattern
• Borders of Downtown
Lincoln
• Zoning/Land Use
• Traffic Volume
• Mean of Transportation
• Crime
• Building Use
• Building Condition
• Width of Alley
• Open Spaces in Downtown
Lincoln

16. Alley Project in Lincoln
Field Study
Buildings in Downtown
•
Building Materials
•
Building Height
Alleys in Downtown
•
Existence of Business
•
Existence of Parking
•
Steepness of Slope
•
Existence of Graphics
•
Existence of Drains
•
Existence of Canopies
•
Existence of Furniture
•
Existence of Plant Life
•
Number of Garage
Doors
•
Number of Doors
•
Existence of Trash
Containers
•
Number of Utility Pole
•
Number of Lights
•
Number of Windows
•
Alley Paving Materials
•
Alley Paving Condition

17. Alley Project in Lincoln
Comprehensive Analysis of Downtown Lincoln

18. Proposal Area
Alley located between 14th and Centennial Mall and between O and P Street

19. Alley Project in Lincoln
Building Uses in the Adjacent Eight Blocks
and Proposal Area
Entrance View of Each Alley in the
Eight Adjacent Block and Proposal Area
Eight adjacent blocks and proposal area
• Building Uses in the
Adjacent Eight Blocks
and Proposal Area
• Parcel Owners in the
Eight Adjacent Block
and Proposal Area
• Street and Site View at
the Edges of Each
Block
• Entrance View of Each
Alley in the Eight
Adjacent Block and
Proposal Area

20. Alley Project in Lincoln
Comprehensive Analysis of Eight adjacent blocks and proposal area

21. Proposal Area
Existing Condition of the proposal Area
Entrance of the Alley (From
14th Street)
East side of Alley
Entrance of the Alley (From Centennial
Mall)
Smaller Open Space
Entrance of the Smaller
Open Space (From Alley)
Entrance of the Smaller
Open Space (From P Street)
Bigger Open Space

22. Proposal
• It is important to attract diversity of people into the
alley since it is a public space
• It works as connections of areas, people, and
activities
• It is an initiative alley revitalization project, therefore,
it needs to show the potential of alleys
• It restricts vehicle accesses for the a pedestrian
friendly space and enhanced community, and also to
create less damage on the alley
• It consider the connection to the west side due to
there is the Barrymore’s alley and the adjacent street
located to the west side of the alley (no alley at east
side) is much more lively with more pedestrians and
vehicles than the east side of alley
• It prepares few alternatives due to alternatives seeks
more possibility and it should involve communities
there

23. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Economic Development and
Community Enhancement
Location
• Around the area is concentrated by
food services and bars
• Near University of Nebraska Lincoln
needs more food service such as
grocery stores
• There are many projects going on
around the area
Demographics
• There is quick population growth in
the Lancaster county
• Asians live mostly around Downtown
• The highest Asian population in
Lancaster County is 20 to 29 which is
students and young professionals)
Type
• Commercial District is likely to adopt
the retail type of alley revitalization
strategy

24. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
• One of the issues
here is how public
space could
contribute to private
business
• The solution should
be beneficial to both
enterprises and the
city
• The price of rent of
the public space for
enterprises will be
decided by the
distance from the
facade

25. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Time Schedule(Control Vehicle Accesses)

26. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
14th Street
Ground Plan
Centennial Mall
P Street
O Street

27. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Cross Section
Vendor Area
Retail Area Out dining
Event Area

28. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Smaller Open Space

29. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Smaller Open Space (Existing Condition)

30. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Smaller Open Space (Proposal)

31. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Alley

32. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Alley (Existing Condition)

33. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Alley (Proposal)

34. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Alley (Existing
Condition)

35. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Alley (Proposal)

36. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Bigger Open Space

37. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Bigger Open Space (Existing Condition)

38. Alternative 1 (Asian Block)
Bigger Open Space

39. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Economic Development and
Community Enhancement
Location
• In the area, there is a studio
• The proposal area has the museum,
Nebraska History museum, in the
block, and the Children’s museum, in
the adjacent block
Art Activity in Lincoln
• Lincoln has put its effort to activate
art in Downtown Lincoln area such
as art council activities, Downtown
association activities, the
concentration of public art
Type
• Commercial District sometimes
collaborate with art type of alley
revitalization strategy to attract
pedestrians

40. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
• Public Art in
Lincoln

41. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Time Schedule (Control Vehicle Accesses)

42. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
14th Street
Ground Plan
Centennial Mall
P Street
O Street

43. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Cross Section
Exhibition Art
Area
Art Area
Event Area

44. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Smaller Open Space

45. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Smaller Open Space (Existing Condition)

46. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Smaller Open Space (Proposal)

47. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Alley

48. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Alley (Existing Condition)

49. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
• Alley (Proposal)

50. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Bigger Open Space

51. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Bigger Open Space (Existing Condition)

52. Alternative 2 (Lincoln Alley)
Bigger Open Space (Proposal)

53. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Community Enhancement and
Sustainability
Case Study: Trend and feasibility
• Green Infrastructure is the
most common type of alley
revitalization among the newer
projects such as projects after
2010, especially in the U.S.
• Green Infrastructure has wide
range of feasibility
Type
• Green Infrastructure is less
likely to specify district
• Even commercial district
sometimes adopts this alley
strategy if the alley is going
to be repaved

54. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Time Schedule (Control Vehicle Accesses)

55. Alternative 3 (Green River)
14th Street
Ground Plan
Centennial Mall
P Street
O Street

56. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Cross Section
Kids
Playground
Area
Sittable
Green Area Relaxation
Area

57. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Smaller Open Space

58. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Smaller Open Space (Existing Condition)

59. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Smaller Open Space (Proposal)

60. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Alley

61. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Alley (Existing Condition)

62. Alternative 3 (Green River)
• Alley (Proposal)

63. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Bigger Open Space

64. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Bigger Open Space (Existing Condition)

65. Alternative 3 (Green River)
Bigger Open Space (Proposal)