rattler

My following point has probably been discussed multiple times, but, Greenville lacks the density, number of jobs, and population in general to make mass transit such as a light rail work. Density breeds need for transit. Transit breeds need for density. Also, there is not a mind set of "mass transit is a great option for me giong to work" in Greenville. Places like Denver which has the mind set of "lets try transit" will have much more sucess. That being said if we took the "infrastructure improvement budget" and or "road improvement funds" and put those towards "subsidizing transit," transit would work. If find it terribly ironic that the crowd that says transit does not work because it has to be subsidized is typically the same crowd that cries for road improvements. Well, ALL of our roads are subidized by us, the taxpayers. We have one toll road in the upstate, and no one pays for that... yet. Off point, but last week a cowork of mine had a car totaled by a GTA bus. The bus dropped its universal joint directly in front of his wife's car. She had no option but to run over it, as there was on coming traffic. At that point a GTA mechanic came out and said "this is our fault." Now, GTA has denied his insurance claim. HA! Great way to promote ridership... Use the buses to destroy cars.

I agree. The intersection of Spring and McBee is a great example of different attitudes towards the street (assuming there is not sewer construction at the time) and how that creates dead space. -The Bookends Building fully imbraces the pedestrian by being built to the sidewalk with retail/ office/ and residential entrances on the sidewalk. -The Suit Building makes overtures toward the pedestrian. It is built to the side walk with a few pedestrian entrances. However all of the frontage of the building is devoted to office uses, rendering it "dead," unless you work there. It does give you the framework for a comfortable urban space. -The SunTrust Building looks like an 80's suburban diadem. It has reflective windows, a lovely hedge between the building and the sidewalk, and a massive entrance cut into the facade of the biulding. The space created by the entrance is littered with planters. It completely turns its back on the street and sidewalk by buffering and pulling away. I find it facinating how simple details like that make or break a space. That is one of the best non-Main Street intersections in Greenville! It is far better than many of the streets in downtown.

Thanks I appreciate that. Now that you mention it I do remember hearing that Sasaki did the original one. The devil is always in the details. May this plan propel downtown with the sucess the old one did! For those familiar with Clemson's campus Sasaki also designed the space behind the library in between the library and the Strom Thurmond Center

Great point about the parking. The irony is that there is free parking galore in garages. Point being: Our sense of a walkable distance is still pretty juvenile as far as urban cities go.

Will the final presentation in December discuss how to put legs to these objectives? With training as a landscape architect I know the language Sasaki is using, as it has been pointed out, is usually just fluff.

I thought you were refering to Pot Belly Deli in Clemson at first. I think this too would be a wonderful addition to Greenville.

I know I am a little late jumping into the conversation. How much Pedestrian traffic do you think McBee Station will get from people who dont live there? I know the goal is to create a vibrant pedestian enviroment in places other than Main Street. Destinations like McBee Station are needed to do that. I am just curious to see how many pedestrians will detach themselves from Main and walk the three blocks. I lived in one of the older apt. buildings down McBee untill earlier this summer and am disapointed that I left right before it opened. I think this is a wonderful addition to the urban fabric of Greenville. To the discussion a few posts back, as far as the rent goes, I am confident there will be tons of demand to sustain those apartments. It has been a serious challenge to find downtown apartments, unless you were truly commited to the search. In between wait lists, cost, and virtually no new units it was a challenge.