Took a family trip to Nashville this weekend. We stayed in the old West End and had a grand time. There was a new condo building going up outside my window, and another massive multi-use building just 2 blocks away working on the foundations. My wife’s uber driver told her there are 33 cranes in & around downtown. I could not what had gone up in the 2 years since I was last in town -mainly in the gulch and east end.
I was not in love. The walkability of the Old West End is good, lots of restaurants and bars. But the sidewalks seemed narrow, the roads were narrow, and even at only 10-12 stories, there was a dark, canyon-like feel that I did not enjoy. The traffic around town, freeways & streets was horrific. A local commented that they were reaching Atlanta traffic status. I don’t think that’s a goal for anyone. Still the eating was good, as was the energy. The seeming infinite number of bridal shower groups might have driven the energy, lol. We will going back for sure, but this is not a town I’d want to move to.
I’m in the historic center of Vilnius right now and rolled my ankle on terrible pavement here. So let’s not have terrible pavement and much cobblestone streets as Vilnius. Unfortunately I will soon go to Riga and Tallinn and it’s going to be the same. Good thing for travel medical insurance.
Those cobblestones can be killers! Walk lightly friend!!
To me, this pic is a great illustration of pleasing density, unlike the canyon I experienced this past weekend. Of course today you would need this many stories of parking before you even get to the building.
I did have a great time in upper middle Tennessee. It is beautiful country. We went up to Clarksville & visited friends. Great meal and beer at a new downtown brew pup, and a great public fountain! Its relatively new, early 00’s, right in the middle of the city block, next to 3 lane turn for drive through banking. I thought it a fun and grand fountain, my wife not so much. It certainly improved the area next to this big honkin’ drive-thru. But something like this deserves to have some park space around it. Its on Strawberry Alley between 1st & 2nd Sts if any of y’all want to look up the spot.
Over on the Moore Square thread, a topic came up about providing shade downtown. It made me think of this road I spotted in Athens with a nice shade/art fixture.
We need a downtown river ASAP. Should I start a GoFundMe?
As an aside, look at the size of those parking pedestals on the buildings on the right. Can you imagine all the traffic that these buildings are causing here?!
I could be biased as I am a fish out of water (raised near, on the water) but the movement and fluidity of the water of a coastline or river really adds something to the cityscape. Even townscape for those smaller towns located on rivers.
I mean if San Antonio can do it why couldn’t we? At the same time, I’ve kind of felt we missed the opportunity here keeping the creek buried underneath Smoky Hollow.
Perhaps there’s another natural element that our city could make prominent. Trees come to mind for me.
I thought it a fun and grand fountain, my wife not so much. It certainly improved the area next to this big honkin’ drive-thru. But something like this deserves to have some park space around it. Its on Strawberry Alley between 1st & 2nd Sts if any of y’all want to look up the spot.
