Open it Off-Broadway?

The Complete Streets workshop today in Jeffersonville was a good introduction to the basic concepts of this tenet of modern urban planning and design. About 40 people were on hand for the workshop, which had an intended focus on Jeffersonville, although the basic ideas are applicable to most cities, and certainly New Albany.

Because the adage is correct that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, I came away with the idea that New Albany's fist step toward complete streets should naturally be to introduce these design elements into the downtown street grid. Upon reflection, however, I think we may actually have a better chance of success by first working on THE street of Uptown-- Vincennes Street. This street cries out for help. Some of the merchants on Vincennes have literally cried out for help as they try to make a go of it on that once-close runner-up to Downtown's bustle. With Downtown's persistent signs of rejuvenation, it's a good time to roll out some assistance to Uptown.

Downtown has benefitted measurably from the Riverfront Development District, which equates to the cheap liquor license zone. A similar helping hand has not been extended to Uptown, unless one counts the elimination of commercial structures across from the high school in favor of parking spaces for students, a heaping helping of auto-centric hamburger joints, a no man's land on the approach to the moribund K & I bridge, and more than enough vacant storefronts, as a formula for prosperity.

The work required uptown to bring about Complete Streets could pay off relatively quickly  because a smaller area is being tackled. Businesses there could use a shot in the arm as little attention has been paid to the area since Downtown has perked up. New Albany could support two commercial districts in the inner city just as it supports numerous commercial areas heading out of town. And a successful rollout of Complete Streets in Uptown could act as a good demonstration project before the Downtown is targeted.

While focusing on Uptown may be the first step toward Complete Streets, an even more preliminary step, perhaps the analogous step of putting on one's shoes, would be a commitment or an ordinance directing all new development to follow the precepts laid out in a Complete Streets model. Years ago, when I fist served on the Plan Commission, I questioned why we always dictated that a developer build a sidewalk unconnected to any other sidewalk. Since that time some of those "sidewalks to nowhere" have been matched up with other sections of sidewalk to make functional walk ways. Likewise, the incremental bits of Complete Streets can be incorporated into the design of  new developments through the Planning Process, and one day those pieces will join to make a walkable, workable city for all forms of mobility. But to get there we need a plan and a commitment.

Once we've made that commitment, we should get the people from Uptown involved in planning, and work to make Vincennes our first Complete Street. We can build from there. And in the meantime, we can add elements of Complete Streets throughout the city during reconstruction and repair.