3 Responses to “Canal Walk still moving forward”

1. posted by Scott Burger at September 22, 2008 9:31 am [#]:
   

   The Canal Walk is a great idea and certainly as an environmentalist I am glad to see part of the sewer overflow issue addressed by the Canal Walk, but its execution has been upsetting.

   Go back to the gas utility surcharges and federal grants from a decade or two ago and follow the money.

   Most of the public investment, including the $50 million loan to Cordish, would have been better utilized for Richmond public schools and infrastructure.

   The Canal Walk could have done a better job of utilizing its location (a well designed Convention Center done sensitively on the riverfront would be light years from the overbuilt, costly white elephant on Broad Street), as well as improving public access to the river (how frustrating it is to see the beautiful river through the giant panes of glass of the vacant stores and restaurants on the ground floor of the Cordish development).

   I do appreciate the amenities of the Canal Walk, and I am very much looking forward to more celebrations like the upcoming Richmond Folk Festival, but as a taxpayer I despair at many of the unnecessary expenses and wastes.

   I offer this comment in contrast to the usual flip Jack Berry boosterism/corporate welfare, which has cost Richmond in countless ways.

2. posted by Scott Burger at September 22, 2008 9:42 am [#]:
   

   A few other, less negative, thoughts:

   The Canal Walk could be redeemed by increased public use- including more organic, less corporate commerce as well as a concerted effort to connect to local and regional greenways.

   I have said it many times before, but one real test is how easy it will be a for a citizen like me or a tourist from one of the planned hostels or hotels to get down to the Canal Walk and go from there along the Capitol Trail (which goes to Williamsburg along the James River) and/or the East Cost Greenway (which runs north/south, greenway.org). In other words, the intersection of the Canal Walk/Capitol Trail and the East Coast Greenway is crucial.

3. posted by Ry at September 22, 2008 9:55 pm [#]:
   

   I spent about a week down in Savannah earlier this month and I would love to see some of their downtown/tourist concepts brought to Richmond. They have really capitalized on the river and the park-blocks are a great way to have some green space downtown. I was very impressed with the involvement of SCAD with the city.

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