Originally Posted by
swingline
Blocking off Kercheval and creating a pedestrian mall is a bad idea for so many reasons it's hard to know where to start.
First, as any planner will advise, this creature of mis-guided 20th Century thinking only succeeds in creating thriving districts in very limited circumstances. E.g., very high volume tourist traffic, very high density [[think high-rise Manhattan, Chicago, Vancouver) residential populations nearby, or nearby captive populations like college students. GPP fits none of these categories. Kercheval Road is the equivalent of a small town Main Street. Small Town Main Street retail and restaurant owners need foot traffic AND vehicle traffic. Main Street customers don’t necessarily need to park right in front of the door, but they do need to scope out where the door is, and whether the business is open, etc. It’s basic shopping habit. A pedestrian mall on Kercheval Road in GPP anchored by an [[ugh!) medical office building is guaranteed for ghost town status within 5 years.
Next, if the Cotton family is as philanthropic as suggested, why aren’t they exploring how such a massive investment on Kercheval Road east of Alter Road could be a catalyst for development west of Alter Road, a few yards away in – Detroit. Why wall off their investment? Take advantage of the cheap land, work with Detroit Future City, find other partners and figure out what will succeed. Not suggesting a gift or a handout to Detroit, I’m suggesting the Cottons think bigger and better. Implementing a plan that blocks an important secondary collector road at the Detroit border with the ass-end of a medical building is short sighted and will guarantee that Kercheval Road from Alter Road to Conner Road is lost to the future urban forest.
Also, the politics of closing the street are awful. Do the Cottons think that security will be enhanced? Fat chance. And it will justifiably be seen as a “Keep Detroiters out” tactic. Creating a playground for white surburbanites, etc. The project will be permanently stigmatized. [[And really, what’s to stop [[code word alert) non-shoppers and non-diners from sauntering in, occupying benches and planters for hours on end and causing trouble.)
Also, even “desireable” customers to the area who are arriving from the west need to reach Kercheval somehow. If the street is blocked, are folks supposed to wind their way through the very narrow adjacent residential streets. All of these streets are so narrow that parking is only allowed on one side. Plenty of kids playing too. Exactly the kind of streets that don’t need more traffic.
Successful small town Main Streets require an intensity of use that can only be achieved through a combination of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Closing Kercheval Road is a sure loser of an idea. Hopefully GPP decision makers understand this and quickly shoot down the idea of closing the street.