Please note: This was originally posted on this website on
March 28, 2007. That was before many details, including the
MOUs, were released. Some of
the ideas in this perspective are wrong, but remember, this was
before the public had much of the information now available. I
had the opportunity to speak with Deputy Mayor Mark Becker about many of
my concerns and questions on April 25, 2007, the day after the City
Council vote on the finance resolutions.
Read the interview here.
Answer
1 question.
Harrison Square captured my imagination
when details were first released around Christmas last year. A
downtown ballpark could be the catalyst project to explode the
momentum that’s been building for the last couple of years. Much
money has been spent on study after study to address not only what
could be done, but also what should be done. More money has been
spent the last few years in actually building and improving not
only facilities - the downtown
ACPL branch and
Grand Wayne Center
- and infrastructure including sidewalk renovations and
Wayfinder signs. Councilman Tim Pape has stated that between
1995 and 2005, $2 Million in private money was invested in
downtown. (Pape-Talarico
City Council presentation 3/14/2007, slide 52) The last few years have seen a renewed interest in
downtown and increased investment as a result of the City’s
efforts. The Harrison Square proposal is the largest to
come along in a long time.
At one of the
final
Blueprint Plus
meetings a
map of downtown was posted
showing a baseball diamond a
cross from the Grand Wayne Center. At
that time, the Grand Wayne was still under construction so the
full impact of the vacant decaying lots in the now proposed
Harrison Square area was not as noticeable and in a way, they fit
with all the construction going on in the area. The map stunned
me – the current stadium was still
viable, why duplicate it? Upon further reflection, I’ve never felt
comfortable in the current
Memorial Stadium. Don’t get me wrong,
it’s quiet and peaceful, but in a way too peaceful.
I attended
the March 14, 2007 meeting at the downtown Library with the
expectation of receiving answers and details about the project.
Instead, I had more questions than before. I’ve never been
involved in the planning of a major project like this. I make no
claims to understand the intricate details of the financing
involved. I do know this is still in the early stages of
development and conception. Pieces are falling into place, i.e.
the purchase of
The Palace Restaurant and an updated concept
drawing of the Square.
I was very
surprised that the
new concept
drawing was barely mentioned or referenced, even though it’s
completely different than the drawing
first released in December.
The first thing you notice is that the baseball stadium has grown
in size. It was mentioned that the possibility of using the
stadium for high school football games is being explored, hence
the deeper left field. It was also mentioned that the
stadium’s walls were to be kept minimal in height so they will not
tower over the surrounding areas. (Please note that I do
understand these are "concept" drawings and not set in concrete,
however they do provide a visual image of the proposal.)
The problem
with the second drawing is it supports the argument that Harrison
Square is about baseball. The residential/retail buildings
dwindled from several to two in the main project area, but potential development further south along
Brackenridge and Baker Streets is now indicated. It might be mentioned that the
television stations, when broadcasting any news concerning
Harrison Square, still show the first concept drawing. This is
the concept that has stuck in the minds of most of the public.
There has
never been a clear explanation of anything to do with the project
past phase I. The closest to this is a mention in the city
brochure about future options. The two Lincoln Financial
Group parking lots that are on the north side of Baker Street and
the block of residential properties along Ewing and Baker Streets
are now mapped out as future development, hence phases II and III.
One of the
things that has impressed me with the project’s developers is
their insistence that the project "mesh" with downtown - that it
blend in and truly become a part of it. The new concept drawing
features one building between the ballpark and Jefferson
Boulevard. The building would start at the southeast corner of
Ewing and Jefferson and extend east along Jefferson ending across
the street from
King Gyros. (Again, I realize this is only a
“concept” rendering.) This would mean that driving east on
Jefferson Boulevard, a lot of the ballpark and surrounding area
would be hidden behind condominiums and store fronts. Westbound on Washington
Boulevard would mean the Grand Wayne Center blocking some of the
view with the proposed condominium/retail building blocking the
rest.
Hiding the
stadium behind the condominiums/retail area
doesn’t seem a good choice when it was
mentioned that the condominium buildings could
entail 5 or 6 stories. The condo owners would have a great
view of the baseball field, but those attending games would see
some of the Grand Wayne Center,
Downtown Hilton,
Summit Bank
Building, new hotel and
Embassy Theatre but mainly the
condominiums.
To be
truthful, there is not much from that proposed area to see, but at
the least, one should have a clear shot of the Library’s Main
Branch and some of the area west of that. One would certainly
want to salvage as much of a city view as possible. I’m thinking
of
Wrigley Field in Chicago. An older ballpark for certain, but a
decent view of the city. Spending a day in the stands there is
refreshing and seeing all the buildings and surrounding community
help to invigorate your experience and make you feel a part of
something vibrant and exciting.
