Join the Conversation
The City of Dublin has begun work on a strategic study of our community’s central core, the Bridge Street Corridor. Containing some of our community’s most valued assets (like Historic Dublin) as well as some of our most strategic redevelopment opportunities, current economic conditions have created a unique time for the community to explore new avenues of preservation and growth in this important corridor.
Want to share your ideas or questions about the future of this corridor?
Love the move towards “mixed-use, walkable” communities. I live close to Bridge Street and already have a walkscore (walkscore.com) of 80! That’s pretty good for Dublin.
One of the things that makes areas like you’re planning is the presence of “locally-owned” or small chain businesses. A large amount of corporate stores would likely hurt the Tuttle area, which I don’t want to see happen, and give visitors less of a reason to visit the historic area.
My only other comment: Lose the name BriHi. It sounds like someone is trying too hard. No offense to the person or developer who came up with it. It just doesn’t sound “timeless”. I like “Old(e) Dublin”, “Historic Dublin”, or even just “Bridge Street”. Maybe just let a name develop over time with people and when it catches on, embrace it.
Hello,
I have thought that something needs to be done to capitalize on the beautiful view of the Scioto River from the 161/33/Bridge Street bridge. Are there any plans to replace/remodel this bridge?
I think it would help tie together the Olde Dublin area and the new development on Riverside Drive if the bridge could have some walking, pedestrian amenities, like picnic tables, benches.
On a grander scale, it would truly be awesome (the WOW! Factor) if the bridge could actually contain some shops/apartments like the I-670 Cap in the Short North or the Pulteney Bridge in Bath, England.
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulteney_Bridge) and (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pulteney_Bridge_Bath.jpg)
Maybe there even could be consideration of the construction of a weir or fountain in the river and some redevelopment of the parkland down by the river underneath the bridge? This is an area of striking natural beauty that is surprisingly neglected in Dublin.
Sorry, this link to the Pulteney Bridge article should work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulteney_Bridge
If you haven’t already, you should ask Mr. Dick Termeer or Mr. Herb Jones of the Dublin Historical Society to give Goody-Clancy a tour of the park under the Bridge Street Bridge . . . http://www.dublinohiohistoricalsociety.org/contactus.html
There needs to be a foot bridge built over Bridge Street. It’s not enough to rely just on stop lights, what with four lanes of fast moving traffic. The bridge could be at Franklin or at High Street. I live in Waterford Village (just south of Bridge St) and I’d love to let my kids walk to old Dublin to shop and go to the library. But I’ve seen cars very nearly hit pedestrians at the intersection of Bridge and High Street. If the city’s paying a Boston consulting firm a quarter million dollars for advice on Bridge Street, surely they can find the money for a bridge to keep our children and residents safe.
First, echoes of earlier comments: I too support movement toward walkable communities, both for my own wishes and for a broader shift away from the “automobile commute for all” suburb model with its incredible costs in time and fuel.
I too cringe at “BriHi” and “Olde” makes me retch.
My primary concern relates to effectiveness and speed of Dublin’s actions to enhance walkability. While the Bridge Street Corridor Study identifies a framework for long-term development, it involves changes which are only partially within the reach of Dublin control and resources. Revitalizing large areas of empty retail space is vital for the city but it is not something that Dublin can control and accomplish directly.
I believe there are options that use much less time and money to make substantive enhancements immediately. Specifically, a simple process of looking at a map can easily identify places where areas of existing housing abut existing commercial property. Typically there are barriers to foot and bicycle traffic between the two. Eliminate them.
One such area is defined by Frantz Rd. south from 33/161 acting as the barrier between housing on the east side and commercial properties to the west. (Actually there are barriers to commercial properties on the _same_ side of Frantz as the housing!) A couple of pedestrian tunnels across Franz, along with collector paths to them, would be a fast and cheap action by Dublin to substantively improve the walkability of that area, completely within the purview of Dublin’s current operations.
Having attended some of the above meetings, glad to hear what is being considered will not disturb the existing residential neighborhoods in/nearby the Historic District–Waterford, Karrer Place, Indian Run, Franklin Street, South High Street and South Riverview Street. Many of us like that: “It’s Greener in Dublin,” and don’t want to lose the open green spaces and natural settings in the older, existing neighborhoods. Also glad to learn (newspaper articles) that current traffic issues will be addressed before higher density is considered for other areas of the Corridor footprint
A corridor study needs to be based on reality. The costs involved in this type of redevelopment is astronomical, as well as absurd. Is Dublin willing to buy all of the existing retail developments and restaurants at a market rate in order to realize this type of development? Does the City Manager believe that he can impose his grandiose plan on all and they will in turn agree to rebuild, retenant their existing sites ? And whom will be paying for this project?
As we can see from the Gateway Project at the Ohio State University which Mr. Foegler was very much involved with, they had many studies/plans/models done at a very high cost, all pointing to the fact that this would be the best use for the University and would be a success. Years later it still has not been fully leased, though they have had half a dozen or so national real estate companies involved. It has ended up being a failed project that would have never been built, or gone bankrupt, if it were not for the endless funding supplied to Mr. Foegler and Campus Partners from the University.
I would hate to see Dublin get wrapped up in this same type of “planning”.
Mr. Foegler and the Cities overall idea is doable,if it can be focused on Downtown Dublin and not go overboard trying to include the properties from Bridge Street/ State Route 161 from I-270 as well as trying to incorporate Dublin Village Center into this master plan, we can make Downtown Dublin a profitable location for retailers/restaurants . Which in turn will draw the visitors and residents of Dublin and surrounding areas to patronize these places as well as bringing additional retailers/restaurants to this area.
Dublin is not Urban, but SUBURBAN. No matter what name we place on it,
we will all drive to the mall, the theater, restaurants, parks. We do enjoy visiting the downtown Dublin area for a quick dinner, ice cream, some unique retail, but will still head out to the Easton,Polaris, Tuttle for our shopping needs.
The plan that Goody Clancy has provided would be a worthwhile plan in a true urban setting, like Downtown Columbus, Cleveland , Cincinnatti or possibly along the soon to be developed River Walk in Toledo.
Time to put our efforts into a study that will focus on reality.
I love the idea of the housing that is being proposed. I myself am looking for exactly what is being offered. I really hope that this can happen for Dublin. The work that is being done already in the area is really beautiful. I hope that whatever is worked out is for the best of Dublin, and that it doesn’t destroy the historic feel and quaintness of the area.
A friend of mine just returned from the Lake Las Vegas area and posted some pictures of the Ritz-Carleton there. They recreated Florence’s Ponte Vecchio with shops and guest rooms over the lake.
Here’s one of her beautiful pictures: http://beckyjj.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/veg013.jpg
I know that this was probably super expensive, but I post this here just for ideas about what can be done when you have beautiful water views like we have on Bridge Street.
Here is a link to information on the Lake Las Vegas project on WATG’s website: http://bit.ly/90Egli
Here’s information on the original Ponte Vecchio in Florence: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Ponte_Vecchio.html