As someone who has spent literally hundreds of hours having morning coffees, lunches, apres-works there it can be one of the best spots and has improved of late with many positive additions, but I simply do not see the need or want to make it pedestrian only.
because those 40 parked cars bring so much vibrancy that made you enjoy your morning coffee more? I mean, maybe I'm missing something. What is it about those 40 parked cars that makes you feel that you are in an active, vibrant space when you are sipping your coffee? We can and should of course keep access to the parkades, but I can't think of any good arguments to keep those 40 street parking spots. Literally anything else would create more vibrancy.
I appreciate that aspect of it (my wife used to own a business on RHW) but overall the fear is more imagined than real. The vast majority of my wife's patrons came on foot or lived or worked nearby. As a population we still have car centric minds and even the idea of removing 40 surface parking spots creates panic. We have thousands up thousands of parking spots in the vicinity and a brand new streetcar line opening up right by RHW. We can do this and businesses will not only survive but thrive as RHW will become a true destination for pedestrians.
It would be a step in the right direction but it's a shame that we, as a city, don't have the courage to go all the way and commit just one space (just one!) purely to pedestrians. So they're going to spend money on a half measure now and a decade from now we'll have spend more money to do what we should have done to begin with.
You struck fold here, my friend!
Downtown Orlando does a this on the weekends. The city blocks Orange Ave and Church Street for pedestrian use only with police presence.. Bustling with people going to different clubs/bars and restaurants. I'd like to see that happen here even if it's for just the weekends. Need more entertainment though. Set up a stage with music some food trucks . One big street party .With the Valley Line near completion and existing LRT lines, it'd be easy to get people there.
Demand can be induced. It's scientifically proven.
They never will be and it is all about the form and parking congestion. The best thing that could happened is its blown up and something built like residential with retain right there.
Not everyone wants a "square" or large space. I prefer active streets like you find in Amsterdam, Paris. Churchill Square will NEVER be a meeting place to hang out - there is bugger all there. If it was ringed with small little cafes year round with seating at each and solar heaters and all different and interesting ... sure it would be fun and busy. As is its very limited and it is event space only and rife with problems that demand police monitor it at great cost 24/7.