Bent Rail Proposal Downscales (Again)
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Bicycling, Neighborhoods, New Development, Pedestrian on Jan 17th, 2013 | 24 comments
The proposal to remodel the former Monon Fitness Center building at 5301 Winthrop Avenue has taken yet another step towards satisfying some vocal opponents. According to Misha Rabinowitch, the attorney for the proposal, the project has been downsized again. Here are the details relayed to me by Mary Owens from the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association:
Revised site plan significantly reducing the size of the outdoor space and increasing the amount of onsite parking to 79 (from 54)
Identifying the parking along Winthrop Ave. as parallel parking, which eliminates the need for a variance related...
Meridian Kessler’s Long Range Traffic Calming Plan
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Neighborhoods, Pedestrian on Dec 14th, 2012 | 16 comments
At last week’s Monon Corridor meeting, a presenter mentioned the Meridian Kessler long range traffic calming plan. I was unfamiliar with it, so I checked it out on the internet the next day. I had no idea how ambitious it would be. Naturally, my favorite part of the plan is the raised intersections and improved crosswalks at the neighborhood nodes. These intersections are currently dangerous to cross on foot, and the presenter mentioned that there have been a few serious accidents recently in the area.
This plan will not be implemented soon, but it is good to know that the neighborhood...
Monon Corridor Development Meeting
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Bicycling, Neighborhoods, New Development, Pedestrian on Dec 3rd, 2012 | 1 comment
It has been a while since I have attended a neighborhood discussion meeting, so I was excited to see the upcoming meeting to discuss the future development of the Monon Corridor. Here is info from the flyer for the meeting:
With the ambitious Bent Rail Brewery planned next door to the meeting site, this is a great time to discuss the future of the corridor. Redeveloping these long-vacant industrial buildings has been great to see, as these new uses have a potential to become more integrated with the surrounding neighborhood. I hope to meet with others who are interested in the Monon corridor...
Potential Perils of a Successful Neighborhood
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Neighborhoods, New Development on Apr 26th, 2012 | 49 comments
My contact with the Meridian Kessler neighborhood association, Mary Owens, has contacted me about an emerging issue in the neighborhood. Three times in the last year, citizens have demolished small single family homes in order to construct a larger home on the same lot. She sent me a an application for another such case, located at 5855 Central Avenue (pdf warning). Here is a Google Street View of the current house:
This house is not tiny. Additionally, it is almost a guarantee that it is constructed with better materials than what it would be replaced with. Here is the rendering and...
College Avenue Nodes: 54th Street Edition.
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Bicycling, Neighborhoods, Pedestrian on Feb 27th, 2012 | 9 comments
This is the first post in a weekly series focusing on each of the College Avenue Business Nodes. On Saturday, February 25th, I met with Mary Owens, who is the head of the Land Use Committee for the Meridian Kessler neighborhood. I would like to thank her for the helpful information that she was able to provide during our walk from 54th Street to 42nd Street. First up: 54th and College.
Northwest:
The northwest corner has seen the most recent changes, so I thought I would start the feature there. Mary Owens mentioned that the building has recently been purchased by a developer who has been...
