Comments on: Will Harrison Square hate pedestrians?

By: Steve "Tiny" Michaels

Steve "Tiny" Michaels — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:12:05 +0000

I agree that the design, as proposed, would be detrimental to pedestrian traffic. Having just returned from Bellvue, WA, I was amazed when we were directed to what was the ‘best pizza in Seattle”. Unfortunately, the pizza place was up TWO flights of similar steps from street level–practically on a second floor, with no signage or windows to entice you inside– and separated from the nearby parking garages by a maze of one-way streets with no turn lanes to let you park in the garages most adjacent to the restaurant. Not a welcoming thought.

After about ten minutes of trying to figure out the parking, we finally gave up and parked almost three blocks away, and hoofed it to the restaurant. It was good pizza. But I wouldn’t go there again….simply because the access was difficult. Street-unfriendly facades, one-way streets, distant parking….sound familiar? IF (and that’s a big IF) the Harrison is ever built, I would hope that these things are taken into consideration. But based on Fort Wayne’s track record, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Just my .02.

By: Scott Bryson

Scott Bryson — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:26:47 +0000

Does it really matter if Jefferson is reduced by one lane? During construction recently the city shut down two lanes and traffic flowed as usual. Also Jefferson is two lanes except in downtown.

By: john b. kalb

john b. kalb — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:54:53 +0000

Are those posts shown along Jefferson for the parking meters? I remember that the original idea WAS to have public parking along Jefferson on the south side – so customers could park to shop during the 90% of the time that NOTHING will be going on at the unnecessary new stadium.

By: David Sucher

David Sucher — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:57:28 +0000

I agree with your analysis and wonder why the developer has chosen this plan. Merchants are certainly not going to like it. If the reason is that the site slopes then the solution is to divide the building into smaller spaces.

Btw, one of the ‘sub-rules’ to the Three Rules is as follows:

SUB-RULE: Locate the inside floor
level as close as possible to the
level of the sidewalk outside.
Make it easy to see and move into the
building. Current laws on accommodating
people with disabilities encourage
this anyway, but don’t let
the ramp be the only method. Try to
keep the interior floor levels as close
to the sidewalk grade as possible.
To the right we see the exception
to the rule, which is acceptable only
because it is a retrofit of an old
townhouse. It works in a historic
context, but it is not ideal.

By: Kristina Frazier-Henry

Kristina Frazier-Henry — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:27:59 +0000

This is not good. Making this place very handicap accessible is a HUGE deal – it should be a given – and not an afterthougt (as the drawings seem to make it out to be).