Could Even A Partial Tunnel Work?
A comment from regular poster, Wyltn, regarding opening up Abbotsford:
Tearing houses down and realigning roads is just the price the town, county and the state have to pay for their mistakes. I am surprised we haven't been offered a better idea other than tunneling under the length of Maple Avenue.
A idea was floated years ago to build a partial tunnel from about Center Street to Park Street. This would create a walking plaza across Maple Avenue near the public library, bike trail and, now, the Town Green. This would definitely solve the Maple Avenue and bike trail mess and improve the safety/sound on the Town Green.
Comments
If the state won't even pay for improvements to the I-66/I-495 interchange, I doubt they'd be willing to fund this in the absence of a pedestrian dying once a month along the 100 block of Maple Avenue East.
This project would also turn traffic along 123 into a complete nightmare for years, thus making Church and Tapawingo into de facto commuter routes.
If there's got to be traffic tie-ups and money spent, I'd rather see the Town get power lines buried and the sidewalks improved further, with some of the more rundown blocks turned into 4-6 story mixed use buildings if possible.
My theory is to make Church between Park and Lawyers into a pedestrian mall.
Posted by: Shawn Pickrell | July 18, 2008 04:04 PM
No way Church Street should be closed. I'm not for any more streets being closed ever in the Town of Vienna. Our roads are a nightmare because of the current restrictions and poor planning.
Posted by: vienna mommy | July 18, 2008 04:35 PM
The two streets (Mill and the Posh street??) on either side of the trail could be modified into a padestrian mall/Shirlington type, three to four story buildings, and parking.
I am with Shawn though--bury the power lines!!
Posted by: Richard DeGuzman | July 20, 2008 08:51 AM
i agree w/ vienna mommy--no more street closings. they just make traffic worse by constricting it .
Posted by: anne smith | July 20, 2008 09:25 PM
I would much prefer Vienna redevelops Maple Avenue over the only industrial section of Vienna. The industrial section adds to Vienna's mixed uses, it doesn't detract. Since the buildings are older and it's not as expensive here, it's turning into a great area for new businesses start up such as Out of Site Wines and it also seems most of the industrial businesses are remaining. Also, except for the part in between Mill and Dominion, the rest of the area backs up to homes. Perhaps between Mill and Dominion could be taller, but I would much prefer more height and newer buildings along all of Maple Avenue. This is the view of Vienna people see when they drive into the town. Why can't the town just allow buildings to be taller and closer to the street while providing a greater setback from residential homes if the are adjacent? By reducing the front setback and increasing the rear setback you are not changing a properties buildable area. Redeveloping Maple Avenue does not have to be that complicated.
Posted by: Smart Growth Advocate | July 21, 2008 06:51 AM