I think your Rittenhouse example shows part of the problem. It is far
too congested there. And wasn't that the place where the owner actually
put seating in the street at first? I remember huge plant pots used as
a barricade. Was that the spot?
The problem is the connected people can openly push the limits and abuse
public spaces like sidewalks, parks, etc. (That's been the problem with
Clark Park for 10 years.) At the same time, the forces of the state are
being aggressively used against other businesses asking for more
reasonable use, like a few tables on a wide sidewalk like Balt Ave.
Like Ray mentioned, this new centralized business planning is not
capitalism at all. And I think the last 30 years has shown Marx was
correct when he predicted that capitalism will destroy itself. The
fusion of the state and the corporate oligarchy has a name which people
have been trained to refuse, fascism. Our rulers like to call it public
private partnerships in Washington, Wall St and city hall.
Glenn
On 8/16/2011 2:21 PM, William H. Magill wrote:
On Aug 15, 2011, at 10:18 PM, Glenn wrote:
The comparison to Europe doesn't ring true either. Outdoor seating is very
popular but not at car traffic intersections. I felt bad for the Baltimore Ave
businesses when it was revealed that they had such trouble putting a few tables
on sidewalks in front of their businesses. European cities allow cafes to put
out seating in pedestrian areas or plazas, but I've never seen parklet cafes in
high car traffic areas.
I think sidewalk seating would be popular here, but I think you need to be
highly connected and have a business catering to good people.
I can't comment on "European" sidewalk cafes since the UK doesn't really have any, and
that's as far "east" as I've gotten....
But, speaking of "east" if you want to see the impact of "sidewalk cafes" on the "Pedestrian Experience,"
just visit the eastern side of Rittenhouse Square. The last time I was down there, Pedestrians are forced to either walk on t he opposite
side of the street or IN the street, as the "diners" block the entire sidewalk. So much for "sidewalk seating" being
for a "Positive Pedestrian Experience" -- positive only if you want to sit and spend money, extremely negative if you simply want
to walk. And heaven help you if you want to walk side-by-side with a friend!
I would have no problem with the clubs along 18th street putting seating IN Rittenhouse Square -- -but then their
servers would have severe problems dodging cars while crossing back and forth across 18th street. Starr would have
to pay them "hazardous duty pay" :). (And I'm assuming that the "Friends of Rittenhouse Square who
pay for the Square's maintenance, would be willing to "allow" such a use... even if they charged Starr,
et.al. a "maintenance" fee for using the space. (Yeah, I know the Friends tried to commercialize the
Square a couple of years back.)
But that is the entire problem, isn't it.... Cars Vs. Pedestrians Vs. Tables
Vs. free movement Vs. being able to sit in a public space and smoke a cigar and
generate lots of clouds of blue smoke.
William H. Magill
Block Captain
4400 Chestnut Street
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