tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post6699589672563713346..comments2023-06-16T08:50:11.916-07:00Comments on Stop and Move: Destroy pedestrian mall so drivers can cruise? James Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-39853870717433523352013-11-10T08:06:34.857-08:002013-11-10T08:06:34.857-08:00Wouldnt the correct solution be to build a stronge...Wouldnt the correct solution be to build a stronger walking and biking culture, and encourage more housing....rather than destroying it? <br /><br />The sprawl isnt a force of nature that cant be dealt with, its the result of ungoing policy decisions. Many cities take strong steps to stop sprawl, either with growth boundaries or conservation easements of other mechanisms. <br /><br />Fresno is building towards a better downtown, and the rail station will help immensely. It makes no sense to destroy the mall today, and then come back in 15 years and ask for it back....we cant get the art, design or tree canopy back. James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-52626658274437928852013-11-07T11:35:31.525-08:002013-11-07T11:35:31.525-08:00Having lived in Colorado, I believe it is a false ...Having lived in Colorado, I believe it is a false analogy to compare The Fulton Mall with The Pearl Street Mall. Pearl Street is centrally located, nearby the university, and surrounded by housing. It is also in a city that has a much stronger bicycle and pedestrian culture than Fresno, due in part to a much smaller footprint (less than a quarter the geographic size of Fresno). Pearl Street is excellent, and I love going there, but it is comparing apples and oranges to compare it to Fulton. Downtown Fort Collins, CO, on the other hand, shares many characteristics with Fresno and can serve as an example of what our downtown may some day be like. Downtown Fort Collins is not centrally located; it's located on the north-west end of a town that is expanding east and south. Although Fort Collins is extremely bike friendly (one of the highest ranked in the nation), it is twice the size of Boulder geographically, and many people drive. Fort Collins' downtown is almost completely open to traffic, there is a small pedestrian only section that cuts through a city block instead of occupying street space, but the wide sidewalks and slow traffic speeds make it very walkable. Many people drive to downtown to park and walk around, eat, and shop, even though they live miles away, because it is an accessible and attractive destination for business and recreation. One difference that really matters with Fort Collins when compared to Fresno is the proximity of the Colorado State University to downtown, but even when school isn't in session downtown is full of people. I wish Fresno wasn't so car dependent, but the reality of our uninhibited sprawl is that many people live far away from our only urban areas. If we want those people to come downtown and spend time and money there, we need to have a main street that is accessible to cars, buses, bikes, and pedestrians; we need to make our main street accessible. Maybe a pedestrian mall is in Fresno's future when we have a thriving downtown where people live and work, can live without a car, and the (largely inaccurate) reputation for being an unsafe area is put to rest. Of course opening Fulton to traffic is not the end all be all of downtown revitalization, but we need more people to come downtown, and we need to make it accessible for them to do so. It is an over simplification of the reasons for opening Fulton to say it's all to regain a lost era of main street cruising (the last thing on my mind, for one), and if the columnist for the Bee perpetuates that idea it's his own nostalgia and not a substantive reason that should be entering into the debate.Cole T.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-79937895612837431622013-03-23T14:33:52.060-07:002013-03-23T14:33:52.060-07:00This Beer character obviously is gonna make money ...This Beer character obviously is gonna make money and get a sweet contract if the "Fulton Mall" is ripped out. Work for his firm.<br /><br />Folks we have to stop this. Yesterday. The mayor's office has the "bling" and the backing of people who don't even live, or shop downtown. <br /><br />The whole "I Believe" campaign has many points I do, and frankly...ALL Fresnans would agree with. The real snake-oil behind all of this is to "rip out the Fulton Mall" only.<br /><br />I LIVE on Fulton Street. There is parking, homeless people, lots and lots, and lots of empty store fronts in the newer complexes like "Iron Bird", "GV Urban" and many of the older store fronts as well.<br />Lots of traffic also. <br /><br />Remember Granite Park? Remember The Fresno Met? <br /><br />Yeah.......we Fresnans paid the price, and the people who ran these operations are gone (when they should have been hauled in front of the city council to answer questions about squandering the city treasury) in other cities, places, or other positions in local government.<br /><br />Don't let city hall give us this illusion. Cut regulations on the mall. Make parking free (why would you want to pay to park downtown to shop when you can go to a trillion other shopping plazas and malls in Fresno and get free, safe, clean, secure parking)<br /><br />We have to make some noise folks! Count me in. Save The Fulton Mall!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-65824051714200397222013-02-11T22:39:53.787-08:002013-02-11T22:39:53.787-08:00He's one of the senior writers for the paper, ...He's one of the senior writers for the paper, and the article was given front page, above-the-fold coverage with an enormous picture. James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-14734106015420720652013-02-10T20:44:45.779-08:002013-02-10T20:44:45.779-08:00Pining for the days of "dragging the main&quo...Pining for the days of "dragging the main"?<br /><br />"Cars animate a place"?<br /><br />A complete loon.<br /><br />But surely nobody will take somebody so completely and obviously nuts seriously....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12341201158832109978noreply@blogger.com