Riverscape: Blowin' in the Wind
Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille
Let me be clear because I know (as you say here) 'Them's fightin' words' for some local people: I wholeheartedly support the bold and visionary proposal to reinvent the Charleston waterfront which the city commissioned from Sasaki and Associates. As a city, Charleston has its shoulder turned away from its own riverfront -- this proposal would reorient the city to the river, from downtown to the state capitol building. With bike paths, overlooks, a user-friendly riverfront park (not like the current parc horrible) and appropriate businesses. I know many people have not even considered the merits as they deride the plan's call to trim Kanawha Boulevard down. That needs discussion and possible revision, certainement! But, in the words of the great Al Green (and David Byrne) "Take Me to the River."
2 Comments:
The riverfront debate is surely worth having! I frequently pedal around Charleston's East End and downtown. The "racetrack lane" next to the river can be very dangerous if you're trying to cross the boulevard. Ideally, there should be some bike lanes marked along city streets and several sensible ways for bicyclists to travel around the city without impeding motorists. They do this in Chicago, and after awhile the drivers get used to the bicyclists, and it takes some of the traffic off the streets. I understand the busiest times for the boulevard are during rush hours and special events. Wonder if the highway dept. could assist the city in a traffic flow study--not for the purpose of delaying the boulevard improvements, but to make them work for everyone in the best way possible. Morgantown has a wonderful waterfront and bicycle trail system that truly serves as alternative transportation.
Yes, yes, yes, Miss Bonni. Let us all keep this discussion going. The naysayers have peed upon the riverfront recreation proposal with an 'aginners' response that could sink it from the get go. It needs adaptation, but it needs to move forward. For the city's vibrancy.
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