So, as I'm sure lots of you've heard, another makeover to Calhoun Square is in the works. The press release came across our desk just yesterday, along with the artist rendering above. Frankly, I can't pretend like I care much about it today ...
But here's something I do find interesting: A few months back, while reading about the anniversary of Southdale's opening (it's the nation's oldest mall, which you probs already knew), I was reminded that the place was built by a total commie, Victor Gruen, who so loathed the social isolation of suburbs, such as Edina, that he sought to fix ‘em a proper town square. Of course, the reality is that these shopping centers are too cold (as in: beige) and too manufactured to ever achieve the organic, hand-made feel of a public meeting spot, such as our downtowns. Turns out, sunshine and fresh air are more important ingredients than first imagined.
Which is precisely why I live in Uptown. Of course, the neighborhood has plenty of haters, but it's still the most walkable in all the T.C. I've got three grocery stores within a quarter mile (which is, perchance, the "walkability" threshold). I've got the lakes. I've got some of the best clothing boutiques (Ivy and Local Motion) within three blocks, an upstanding new shoe shop (Luna Soles) around the corner. We've got decent restaurants. One of them happens to be Chang Mai Thai, and that joint is on the biggest eyesore of a street (Girard) I've ever seen. So, I'm happy to see Girard will get a boost, in any case. I'm also happy to see an attempt will be made to make the mall better "integrated to the Hennepin Avenue streetscape." But still, I'm skeptical. The best neighborhoods aren't created by real-estate developers; they're made by people. As I see it, it's an ugly, vicious circle we're now operating in: the homogenizing influence of corporate culture has infiltrated our homiest, most historic neighborhoods while, some time later, they started making facsimiles of the best ‘hoods (only with plenty of parking). Bah!
Best neighborhoods are not created by developers? Paris was redone in the 19th century according to a plan, implemented by condemning whole areas of urban unplanned sprawl. Central Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, similar story, starting in the 16th century. Lots of evidence to the contrary on this point.
Regardless, I'm for walkability and agree with the general direction of your piece. Our problem is that the auto dictated much of the development in the USA, which destroyed walkability.
Aren't you conflating developers with urban planners? Paris' remodel was part of a holistic urban renewal plan. Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, etc. all were a similar story of the crown/government deciding what would be best for the city. The city isn't doing the planning here. In this case we have a private developer making conscious choices as to what will draw the most traffic/money -- not what will be best for the community at large. There's a big difference.