The Orange Avenue Corridor Specific Plan - City of Coronado

from parking to their Orange Avenue destination.
Alleys. Limit pedestrian circulation in the
alleys because most alleys run parallel to
Orange Avenue, offering little in the way
of “short cuts” between any given points;
and the alleys generally serve vehicular
uses quite well. Employee, residential,
and limited customer parking, in addition
to commercial loading, all take advantage
of this resource. The alleys permit
Orange Avenue’s Commercial Zone to be
generally free of the curb cuts, garage
entrances, and other disruptions to
streetscape and sidewalk that mar many
other cities’ downtown areas. Because
most sidewalks in Downtown Coronado
are well-designed, pedestrian friendly,
and conveniently located (most buildings
open onto the sidewalk, not a rear parking
lot), there is no real desire, need, or
incentive for most pedestrians to use the
alleys.
Currently, the only wayfinding in the Specific
Plan area is CalTrans’ standard green
and white signs and occasional California
State historical site signs. A well thought
out wayfinding system will orient visitors
to Coronado by pointing out attractions,
adding historical explanations, directing
vehicles to parking facilities for specific
activities, and locating amenities.
The vehicular traveler approaching Coronado
over the Bridge is greeted by a simple
yet elegant classic-design entry sign
located on the left side of the road. While
the sign is well- designed, due to its location
on an inside curve it can be easily
overlooked by arriving visitors. The City
may want to re-locate the sign to a more
visible location at some future time.
E. WAYFINDING
E.1. Introduction
Wayfinding refers to a system of design
features (e.g., signs, lighting, landmarks,
directories) used to both help people orient
themselves and navigate between
places. Once viewed as a navigational aid,
“wayfinding” systems now are seen as a
way to market an area’s resources, alter
negative perceptions, evoke a sense of
downtown history and character, and
improve the streetscape.
For years, well-designed wayfinding systems
have been used by indoor malls, airports,
and corporate campuses. Now
these environmental graphics are being
used increasingly often by traditional
downtown commercial areas. People
make qualitative assessments about a
place based upon how well-designed and
understandable it is to find where they
need to go.
Photo 72: Entry Sign on Third Avenue
Arriving at Orange Avenue, one sees a
California historical marker for the Hotel
Del Coronado and Caltrans’ generic green
“business district” sign directing travelers
both north and south on Orange Avenue.
Orange Avenue’s signature landscaped
medians provide a strong sense of identification
for the Orange Avenue corridor
and the Downtown area. The visual
impact of the northern median end,
although less than in the south, was
enhanced by additional landscaping (in
2003) that helps to create a stronger
entry statement.
Chapter VIII – MOBILITY, WAYFINDING AND PARKING
Page 96
ORANGE AVENUE CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN