I'd use that centerpiece too
linky
I wouldn't expect too much from this project though. It isn't mentioned in the article, but they revealed that it is unlikely the project will get anywhere close to Wadsworth, with the focus starting at Main and going west until they run out of money, which they are certain will fairly quickly.
YesThatCasey's Journal
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02/17/2014 12:15 #58699
I know why they chose the lead pic02/14/2014 22:03 #58684
SnowboardingFor the first time in at least 5 years, I was able to slide around a mountainside (ok, hillside). Michelle wound up driving us out there, and Tanya met us shortly after. Unfortunately, Tanya hurt herself pretty quickly and had to return to drinking at a cabin (not the worst alternative plan).
I couldn't believe how much I retained after such a long hiatus. I thought for sure I'd stumble the first time getting off the lift, but I didn't have an ounce of difficulty the entire day. Only fell twice while riding, and both were fairly minor. The conditions were pretty close to perfect.
After the first 8+ runs I realized that I could have been tracking my performance. Ran up to the car to get my phone, bought Ski Tracker, which is an awesome app:
I wish I had snagged a screenshot of the map, since it doesn't seem to save that after you end the session. :o( I also wish it pulled out lift/idle times, so I may look around for other apps next time I'm heading out there.
Bonuses of the day:
Phone interview for a position that I'm excited about (though not sure I did all that well...had just removed a way-to-tight ace bandage during the lunch break, and mind wasn't very focused)
And going on a bromantic trip to Florida.
Going to sleep well tonight
I couldn't believe how much I retained after such a long hiatus. I thought for sure I'd stumble the first time getting off the lift, but I didn't have an ounce of difficulty the entire day. Only fell twice while riding, and both were fairly minor. The conditions were pretty close to perfect.
After the first 8+ runs I realized that I could have been tracking my performance. Ran up to the car to get my phone, bought Ski Tracker, which is an awesome app:
I wish I had snagged a screenshot of the map, since it doesn't seem to save that after you end the session. :o( I also wish it pulled out lift/idle times, so I may look around for other apps next time I'm heading out there.
Bonuses of the day:
Phone interview for a position that I'm excited about (though not sure I did all that well...had just removed a way-to-tight ace bandage during the lunch break, and mind wasn't very focused)
And going on a bromantic trip to Florida.
Going to sleep well tonight
paul - 02/15/14 22:29
1 week to go.
1 week to go.
02/11/2014 12:27 #58670
Allen Street ReduxSo, tomorrow they are meeting to discuss the Allen Street redevelopment:
Along with Elmwood, I think this is one of the areas that has the greatest potential for ROI, and I'm going to try and attend. My thoughts on it below (which involve Wadsworth as well, which is unfortunately not a part of this project and gives me cause for concern). Much of it is geared towards increasing friendliness towards non-vehicular transportation, which I think should be encouraged for a drinking hot-spot.
- Extend bike path from Symphony Circle to Medical campus. This should be obvious, but after the debacle of Main Street, and the existing comments that mention a bike/pedestrian path between Washington and Oak but nothing of Allen, I'm worried the ball will be dropped again.
- Convert the street to one of the following: 1-way single lane (heading east, starting at Symphony Circle), 2-way with parking removed, or pedestrian zone. Seems safe to assume that only the first would be seriously considered.
The first two greatly improve the flow of traffic. Converting to 1-way would help with how difficult it is to use the parking lots adjacent to this street, allowing them to change to diagonal layout with cars reversing out instead of making the 20-point turn to exit going forward.
In the case of a pedestrian zone, Wadsworth could be connected to Days Park.
- Any additional space from the above conversion should be used to expand the sidewalk which is difficult to traverse during busy hours. Brick Bar, Nietzsche, Bend, and Hardware don't help with their patio's, but I doubt anything will be done about this.
- Convert College Street to 1-way going North, Mariner to 1-way going South, Park to 1-way North, and Peart St to 1-way South. The bottleneck created by (presumably) the selfishness of locals to avoid through-traffic creates a nightmare on Allen, and a dangerous environment for non-vehicle traffic.
- Increase bike rack access, hopefully incorporating an artistic theme for the area.
- Depending on some of the above decisions, implementing cobblestone may be beneficial, with elimination of curbs to improve bike/pedestrian travel.
- Extension of curbs at intersections of Delaware and Elmwood, though the latter may be less feasible due to the alignment. I find myself wondering if the Delaware intersection could be converted to a Roundabout considering its size (I can't recall where it becomes a 1-lane street).
- With Food Trucks clearly taking a permanent place in our city, it would be nice if there was a spot set up tailored to this business that would also generate revenue through a reservation system, although the amount of use it would see may not be worth it considering the limited real estate.
- Encouraging, perhaps commissioning, additional street art murals on non-historic buildings
Along with Elmwood, I think this is one of the areas that has the greatest potential for ROI, and I'm going to try and attend. My thoughts on it below (which involve Wadsworth as well, which is unfortunately not a part of this project and gives me cause for concern). Much of it is geared towards increasing friendliness towards non-vehicular transportation, which I think should be encouraged for a drinking hot-spot.
- Extend bike path from Symphony Circle to Medical campus. This should be obvious, but after the debacle of Main Street, and the existing comments that mention a bike/pedestrian path between Washington and Oak but nothing of Allen, I'm worried the ball will be dropped again.
- Convert the street to one of the following: 1-way single lane (heading east, starting at Symphony Circle), 2-way with parking removed, or pedestrian zone. Seems safe to assume that only the first would be seriously considered.
The first two greatly improve the flow of traffic. Converting to 1-way would help with how difficult it is to use the parking lots adjacent to this street, allowing them to change to diagonal layout with cars reversing out instead of making the 20-point turn to exit going forward.
In the case of a pedestrian zone, Wadsworth could be connected to Days Park.
- Any additional space from the above conversion should be used to expand the sidewalk which is difficult to traverse during busy hours. Brick Bar, Nietzsche, Bend, and Hardware don't help with their patio's, but I doubt anything will be done about this.
- Convert College Street to 1-way going North, Mariner to 1-way going South, Park to 1-way North, and Peart St to 1-way South. The bottleneck created by (presumably) the selfishness of locals to avoid through-traffic creates a nightmare on Allen, and a dangerous environment for non-vehicle traffic.
- Increase bike rack access, hopefully incorporating an artistic theme for the area.
- Depending on some of the above decisions, implementing cobblestone may be beneficial, with elimination of curbs to improve bike/pedestrian travel.
- Extension of curbs at intersections of Delaware and Elmwood, though the latter may be less feasible due to the alignment. I find myself wondering if the Delaware intersection could be converted to a Roundabout considering its size (I can't recall where it becomes a 1-lane street).
- With Food Trucks clearly taking a permanent place in our city, it would be nice if there was a spot set up tailored to this business that would also generate revenue through a reservation system, although the amount of use it would see may not be worth it considering the limited real estate.
- Encouraging, perhaps commissioning, additional street art murals on non-historic buildings
YesThatCasey - 02/11/14 15:42
I thought about including trees in the list, but unless there is a significant increase in walkway size, space is an issue again. Trees are almost always a wise investment, but I think this is one of the few exceptions.
North Street bike lanes make no sense to me. You watch designated lanes to be along main thoroughfares where they get the most use and where mixed traffic is a problem. North could use them on top of Allen, especially considering how perilous that street is to bike on now, but if we are choosing only one Allen is the obvious decision; a sizable number of patrons bike to the area, best demonstrated by it being the starting point for Midnight Mass. As always though, it's the cultural problem in our area, where business insiders live on the false impression that bike traffic doesn't generate business.
Time is the only obstacle to my attendance. If you find yourself able to join just gimmie a shout.
I thought about including trees in the list, but unless there is a significant increase in walkway size, space is an issue again. Trees are almost always a wise investment, but I think this is one of the few exceptions.
North Street bike lanes make no sense to me. You watch designated lanes to be along main thoroughfares where they get the most use and where mixed traffic is a problem. North could use them on top of Allen, especially considering how perilous that street is to bike on now, but if we are choosing only one Allen is the obvious decision; a sizable number of patrons bike to the area, best demonstrated by it being the starting point for Midnight Mass. As always though, it's the cultural problem in our area, where business insiders live on the false impression that bike traffic doesn't generate business.
Time is the only obstacle to my attendance. If you find yourself able to join just gimmie a shout.
joe - 02/11/14 12:40
Are you going? I wish I could!
I feel like bike lanes are going to be a no west of Main, since this year they are redoing North and adding bike lanes from the circle to Ellicott. :::link::: Business owners would probably scream about parking too.
I definitely agree with you about wider sidewalks though. All of the sidewalks and curbs are in such terrible shape, it's almost embarassing they would let a destination like Allen get like that. They should really change the code to allow patios without the fences, they take up so much space and make the sidewalk a lot less flexible.
I think sturdier, medium sized shade trees would be really nice too. The twigs the city plant get killed by cars, salt and people and end up never being replaced.
Are you going? I wish I could!
I feel like bike lanes are going to be a no west of Main, since this year they are redoing North and adding bike lanes from the circle to Ellicott. :::link::: Business owners would probably scream about parking too.
I definitely agree with you about wider sidewalks though. All of the sidewalks and curbs are in such terrible shape, it's almost embarassing they would let a destination like Allen get like that. They should really change the code to allow patios without the fences, they take up so much space and make the sidewalk a lot less flexible.
I think sturdier, medium sized shade trees would be really nice too. The twigs the city plant get killed by cars, salt and people and end up never being replaced.
12/18/2013 20:18 #58466
Sporty Bling Bear!?
09/11/2013 22:07 #58067
Select photo dump from Scrody
joe - 12/20/13 16:36
This was such a great time. I still can't believe we swam in water that cold twice.
This was such a great time. I still can't believe we swam in water that cold twice.
tinypliny - 09/13/13 22:11
what camera is this? {sung in the tone of what child is this... ;-}
what camera is this? {sung in the tone of what child is this... ;-}
YesThatCasey - 09/13/13 16:10
Usually I do, and almost all of my FB ones are. But, in this case, I was worried that waiting to sit down and post edit would turn into not posting them at all, so these are raw and uncut. Most of them came out pretty well thanks to the lighting in that area at the time.
And yeah, I'm the epitome of manliness in that picture haha
Usually I do, and almost all of my FB ones are. But, in this case, I was worried that waiting to sit down and post edit would turn into not posting them at all, so these are raw and uncut. Most of them came out pretty well thanks to the lighting in that area at the time.
And yeah, I'm the epitome of manliness in that picture haha
joe - 09/13/13 12:22
Wow these pictures are supa awesome Casey! Are these straight off the camera or do you post process?
And (e:paul) I literally shivered thinking about jumping in. I bet we could have pushed another minute or two though :::link:::
Wow these pictures are supa awesome Casey! Are these straight off the camera or do you post process?
And (e:paul) I literally shivered thinking about jumping in. I bet we could have pushed another minute or two though :::link:::
heidi - 09/12/13 17:37
These pix are beautiful! I'm glad there was an acceptable one of you chopping wood - so manly! ;-) I just wish we had gotten one of all six of us.
These pix are beautiful! I'm glad there was an acceptable one of you chopping wood - so manly! ;-) I just wish we had gotten one of all six of us.
terry - 09/12/13 10:29
Awesome pics! Such a great job of capturing our time at the waterfall.
Awesome pics! Such a great job of capturing our time at the waterfall.
paul - 09/12/13 01:27
Its hard to appreciate how cold that water was. I literally thought I was going to seize up part way across the water.
Its hard to appreciate how cold that water was. I literally thought I was going to seize up part way across the water.
paul - 09/12/13 00:08
Great pics. I wish my phone took such quality photos.
Great pics. I wish my phone took such quality photos.
lol
You were in drag?
we have a celebrity in the house!
Nice, you look like a very concerned citizen.