streetscape

More complaining about streetscape and planters:

• The block and a half between 2nd Street and N. Park Street on Main has no parking, where originally there was parking on both sides of the street. This includes the Richland Bank and Mechanic's blocks.
  
• The City has been enforcing a ban on delivery vehicles using the streetscape for loading and unloading. In particular the Service Safety director has accused delivery vehicles of causing damage by creating potholes in the brick which the city has to repair.
  
• There is no turnoff area or loading zone to service the businesses on these blocks, and recent discussions about parking and such are just a repeat of discussions I've heard for the last four years. The city feels (per Chief Messer's statement at the last parking meeting) that because the merchants unanimously favored the streetscape in 1981, they should have to live with it (26 years later). Despite the fact that pedestrian malls and streetscapes were dismal failures in cities all over the country, and that many cities have removed them and restored the mix of sidewalks, curbs, parking spaces and streets.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting to see that a city vehicle loaded with water for the planters was parked on the streetscape, and thought I'd post a picture here for reference since our business's delivery and maintenance vehicles are being accused of harming the brick paving. Of course it makes sense to use the brick area instead of blocking a lane of traffic. That's why it's happening even with city vehicles.