Missed opportunity in Fountain Square?

Recently there have been some grumblings over on Skyscraper City about the new project to reconfigure Fountain Square’s main intersection. I haven’t visited recently to see for myself, but the first two developments are disturbing.

First, they made the historically accurate fountain inaccessible to pedestrians. As mentioned in the comments, this was a great opportunity to create another Monument Circle-type environment.

Second, and perhaps more egregious if it is a permanent development, the lane of parking on west-bound Prospect was removed. Crossing the street is already dangerous enough to pedestrians, and they are adding another lane of moving traffic? Bizarre.

There is still hope that the project will be worthy when it is completed. But the project isn’t exactly off to an auspicious start.

Comments 7

  • MORNING KEVIN……….UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THE MASTER PLAN FOR 'THE SQUARE' FOR FOUNTAIN SQUARE? PERHAPS OVER LUNCH YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE NEAR FUTURE HOLDS AS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS ONLY THE SMALL SECOND PHASE WITH THE LARGER THIRD PHASE FOLLOWING THIS SPRING. CONTACT ME AT nb@ninebarkinc.com.

    ERIC

  • Whoa, caps lock ftl.

    I'm not sure what they're doing with the fountain surrounding it with goofy looking jagged limestone or something… I'll try to reserve judgment until it is complete.

  • Caps lock abuse is painful to the eyes, for sure. I have contacted Eric to see if he has any other info.

  • I think Eric is talking about the proposed pedestrian plaza to be built north of Deano's Vino.

    That's great, but BOTH SIDES of Virginia should have been very pedestrian friendly. Fountain Square is EVERYTHING around the intersection.

    …and any father of a son between 7 and 27 knows those limestone "obstacles" will merely become a climbing challenge. 🙂

  • When I was first skimming that thread, I thought that was an "in progress" photo of jackhammered concrete. I guess that sums up my opinion of it, although I haven't been to FS lately.

  • Eric is the or one of the designers of the project. I think the CAPS thing is not meant to have any meaning; he just writes in caps sometimes.

  • Just an update to this article.
    The extra lane of traffic was only there during some road/fountain construction.
    It is now parking again.

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