UrbanSoul: An Exploration of Cities

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Corner Re-Design: What NOT To Do

Before

After

While living away, I have often come back home to "The Village" of Highland in St. Paul to find something has changed. From smaller changes like the disappearance of a local pharmacy to massive ones, like the permanent shut down and leveling of the Ford truck plant. Then a Target replaced a Barnes and Nobles (years from now young people will be wondering what the heck that is) and possibly around this time, the corner in front of the store transformed. It once had trees, a ledge to rest, a community board and newspaper stand, and a fun red brick design in the pavement that I would follow along as an adolescent. Before, this corner used to be a meeting spot, where people of all ages would gather. Now? Any corner, USA. There's no there there! Why did this happen?!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Intersection Spruce-Up

Last January I found myself at an intersection that made me snap a photo. I took the picture because I appreciated the design, which seemed to make it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Although it was just a big blob of concrete, the curb served a purpose, and at least it wasn't more pavement for cars. Ironically, a year later, I returned to this very intersection, only to find that it has transformed into something even better. The details are in the design, and even small, relatively inexpensive changes can have a major impact on the safety, look, and feel of an intersection. The intersection now boasts rain gardens, and even greater people and bicycle-friendliness. I'm delighted at this change. Here are my photos, taken almost exactly one year apart!