Comments on: Council members can see library bridge, but urban plan is still fuzzy

By: paul_silver_spring

paul_silver_spring — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:01:02 +0000

Agreed, urban design shouldn’t include express-routes for folks to get from their car to where they’re going without interacting with anyone else – doesn’t create an urban environment. If accessibility is such a problem, they should go back to the building design and figure out how to stick half a dozen handicap spaces right next to the building – it can’t be that hard.

As for City Place – what ever happened to their development application they had in to build an office tower through/on top of the place? I think forcing the foot-traffic of business folks through the mall might do well for that place – granted, it would have to to be large enough to have some critical mass to business folks to make a dent (not claiming to know what the critical mass is either).

And.. I must say I’d happily trade the turf for some real grass as well… just something softer than concrete :-)

Editor’s note: I think current economic conditions have put the kibbosh on that office tower for now. However, the mall’s owners might be moving forward with turning the old top-floor cinema into office space. A sign posted recently at the Fenton Street mall entrance advertised 80,000 square feet of office space available for rent in the building. — JD (Feb 18, 2009)

By: North Hillsbilly of Sligo Creek

North Hillsbilly of Sligo Creek — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:41:51 +0000

Let’s face it, City Place is a disaster. ‘The bridge to bridge to nowhere’ didn’t help City Place either. Good friendly design is what it’s all about and City Place doesn’t have it. Perhaps the Library will. I’d say, blow up City Place and put our beloved ‘The Turf’ there!

By: Sligo

Sligo — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:27:02 +0000

So then put the Library in City Place, move the Civic Center to the library spot and put an open area where “The Turf” used to be. Everyone is happy.

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:26:28 +0000

Thanks for your comments. Mike asked:

“Not saying I favor the bridge, but have people forgotten there is one to City Place from the Ellsworth garage? So how does the argument about the urban plan hold?”

According to the planning department, that bridge was built back in the day when sky bridges were the shit, and an urban-renewal plan didn’t exist to frown upon them.

Everyone else wrote:

“Let’s put the library in City Place mall.”

Good idea, but it ain’t gonna happen, in my opinion.

The county has already thrown a couple million bucks at the Fenton Village library site, booted a few businesses and the Moose Lodge in the name of eminent domain, and bulldozed an old apartment building on Bonifant to build a newer one.

They’re rolling with that site, if only to save face.

By: Mortis Olaf

Mortis Olaf — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:59:08 +0000

I think the city place idea is great. A group should be formed to promote the idea or something…Friends of shitty place library.

By: North Hillsbilly of Sligo Creek

North Hillsbilly of Sligo Creek — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:40:41 +0000

You want people on the ground bumping into people because that creates a sense of place in mixed use development in an urban setting. And you want wheel chairs and special needs to coexist with the rest of us.. not hidden in skywalks. We have to embrace diversity in every form and I’m all for holding a door for someone who would appreciate a friendly smile at street level. It is not an essential add-on and we need to keep costs down. What is essential is is treating the disabled as equals.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:33:58 +0000

Not saying I favor the bridge, but have people forgotten there is one to City Place from the Ellsworth garage? So how does the argument about the urban plan hold?

I really don’t understand the idea that a bridge would somehow make the library more accessible to the disable

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:32:58 +0000

Here’s something to chomp on:

The council members in this story want a bridge to serve disabled library patrons, but they don’t favor it as an alternative to walking on Wayne Avenue.

To that end, the council members suggested reserving most parking spots on the garage’s bridge level for cars with handicap plates or tags only. That is, Olaf’s “damn old people” would have to hoof it around the garage to catch the bridge, or down onto Wayne to get to the library.

Thoughts? Will that deal be enough to dissuade driving into an urban area, while still giving disabled patrons bridge access?

By: Springvale Roader

Springvale Roader — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:55:59 +0000

I refuse to cross over a bridge that has no support.

By: Mortis Olaf

Mortis Olaf — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:32:36 +0000

Damn old people, they thwart me at every turn. Considering the majority don’t support this bridge, the council needs to be more assertive and say no to the bridge. Are they this submissive with their children?