tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368104.post113634828661052742..comments2024-03-06T05:30:41.694-05:00Comments on Pho's Akron Pages: What I Missed: Highland SquareScott Piephohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05849171870929674248noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368104.post-1136783784030484762006-01-09T00:16:00.000-05:002006-01-09T00:16:00.000-05:00The pedestrian argument is a slippery one. yes, m...The pedestrian argument is a slippery one. yes, many people walk through the neighborhood, but many drive to the retail area and then walk. Others drive, go to one store, and then drive away. As the mayor said in the SOS meeting, we are not a major city with significant public transportation infrastructure. That is the reality, that many of us rely upon our cars.<BR/><BR/>And yes, Albrecht might be an obstinate, stubborn man (don't know, have never met him). It's also his property, and he could have gashed it up in a manner that would have freaked everyone. He didn't. In my book, point Albrecht.<BR/><BR/>The fact that this project was held up for years for bickering over parking space (strip it all away, and that was the heart of it), and then will go forward with nearly the same damn plans as were in place some time ago, is not a victory. It's a testament to wasting time. <BR/><BR/>Possibly the Taco Bell victory stoked some egos and they contended they could make the world bend to their visions of the square? Look at the rhetoric used? Save Our Square? It's perfect now, needs preserved in its present form?<BR/><BR/>I was in Mary Coyle today, looking at the architect's renderings of the redesign. Funny, they're strikingly similar to what was in the ABJ rendering.<BR/><BR/>I love that my neighborhood is active and vocal, but I also wonder where it's priorities are as well.<BR/><BR/>I heard Smith at the SOS meeting say some folks wanted N. Highland and Highland to match up, so that there wasn't a jaunt in the road. Okay, but how that get done with out tearing through property owner's home and yards? What good would that have served?<BR/><BR/>The library enterance doesn't face Market now, and the parking there is terrible. During the summer, that's no issue: I'll ride my bike up or walk. But in the winter, parking matters when towing along two kids.<BR/><BR/>I do wonder about the retail, and hope that it's local, not chain. With that much space going in, there are great opportunities for local business owners.<BR/><BR/>I know this plan could never make everyone happy, there were too many constituencies, and they all felt significant personal involvement. But the plan is reasonable, if not perfect. It's time to go forward.redhorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715910275136575511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368104.post-1136776262617235712006-01-08T22:11:00.000-05:002006-01-08T22:11:00.000-05:00Peppermint:First, thanks so much for your comments...Peppermint:<BR/><BR/>First, thanks so much for your comments. It's unfortunate that you have to blog this to make your misgivings known. The papers should have called NSNA for comment when they did their stories. It's clear from your comments here that they did not.<BR/><BR/>I find all your objections valid. On the other hand, HS was dealing with some painful realities. First and foremost, that the people who own the business property are not interested in HS as a neighborhood, but as a business opportunity. If I had the Starkle Markle property and a couple million to invest in it, the result would look a lot more like what the HSNA wanted. <BR/><BR/>But I don't own HS and I don't have millions of dollars. Fact is, Albrecht was going to do what he thought best for his investment. <BR/><BR/>You (individually and HSNA collectively) changed his calculus and got some of what you believe would be best for your neighborhood. The new Highland Square won't look exactly like you want it, but it won't look like Walhaven or Pilgrim Square or Montrose, either. That's a victory of the hardest kind -- changing the way a businessman does business -- and should be celebrated.<BR/><BR/>A second reality we all have to face is that a pedestrian-friendly retail space is much harder to maintain in a city like Akron. I was in DC this weekend and was reminded what makes their neighborhood business districts work -- MetroRail. When I lived in DC, if we wanted to go to a cool new restaurant or shop, often as not we jumped on the train to get there. Albrecht has reason to be skeptical that similar business districts can thrive here. What he has agreed to is a compromise between the vision of HS denizens and his original strip-mall plans. Again, I see this as a victory and think you should be proud of it.<BR/><BR/>Finally, during the aformentioned DC trip, we dropped in on mutual friends J&LW in their new Montgomery County digs. Your name came up; they say "Hi."Scott Piephohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05849171870929674248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368104.post-1136667868880037672006-01-07T16:04:00.000-05:002006-01-07T16:04:00.000-05:00I know i said I'd blog about HS in depth but I hav...I know i said I'd blog about HS in depth but I haven't had the time to write anything thoughtful. <BR/><BR/>Many of us in HS consider this a Pyrrhic victory. We are getting redevelopment, but not by someone sensitive to the area. <BR/><BR/>Yes, Albrecht sought public opinion for his plans. That's because the development agreement includes public property--owned by the city and library. <BR/><BR/>I've met with him and read a lot of correspondence from him over the last two years, and his obstinancy and lack of awareness became apparent. <BR/><BR/>He only moved parking to the back of his retail at the behest of the city. So championing his compromise doesn't take everything into account. <BR/><BR/>I think at surface view his plan resembles the HSNA-sponsored plan. And, indeed, because the parking (too abundant as it were) lot is placed in teh back now, that makes it a helluva lot better. <BR/><BR/>However, I'm still concerned about Highland Ave being cut off and diverted into a parking lot. The library entrance will face the parking lot, not the sidewalk, which doesn't help to facilitate the pedestrian environment we're trying to uphold and enhance. I think there will be some safety issues there. <BR/><BR/>Plus, there is an expanse of space between teh sidewalk and the retail (where Star market currently rusts away). It is intended to be "lingering" space with chess tables or other contrived crap. <BR/><BR/>However, Albrecht has said explicitly (heard the words myself) that he does not want any lingering businesses to occupy his retail space. No restaurants or cafes that would keep cars in his lot when others could be parking there. So just who will want to "linger" in this large, (I believe, elevated) space? <BR/><BR/>I'm dubious that he will seek to rent to businesses that are what the square needs. He is not opposed to chains. <BR/><BR/>I know this sounds like a deluge of negatives. It is, I suppose. Being close to the cause, it's difficult not to be frustrated. <BR/><BR/>I am happy something is moving along finally. But I question that it's ultimately good for HS.peppermintlisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14928594750350871757noreply@blogger.com