Eye Candy or the Importance of Amusement While Walking About

As anyone who has spent time in New York City knows you can be entertained just by walking around and looking.  Wonderful eye candy abounds.  The people are beautiful, window displays are cutting edge and the architectural details lovely.  Infrastructure was NOT an afterthought here.  Not to mention the kinetic frenzy of just life on the streets…it is hard not to walk a little further just to continue to be a part of it all.  

Here in Nashville, a walk is typically more of a sedate affair unless you are attempting to walk along one of our more busy streets without a sidewalk.  Then, you can feel a certain life threatening pressure that is less than comfortable and a whole lot less interesting than a typical walk in most major cities.  

Until recently…

I have been following this house for years at 734 Jackson Blvd.  It is original for Nashville and was drawn by Larry Woodson.  The landscape architects, Kaiser Tribue, did a unique plan.  My husband, Andy, did the interior hardscapes (Proctor Marble & Granite).  We ended up using Larry & Kaiser Tribue for our recent home remodel.  

So, I went by the house a lot just to look…When one day I saw the beginnings of the artwork above and was stunned!  I had heard the home owners were showing movies on the large flat expanse in front but I never expected something so radically beautiful in Nashville.  

But, you see, and this is proof, Nashville is changing.  

'It’s not traditional. It’s a different kind of art. You don’t go somewhere and see it on purpose. Also, this is Belle Meade. People don’t expect to see it here'.

To experience the full effect, I encourage you to walk by…

For more information - you can follow on Facebook at:  

 outside734

For more about the artists, visit Jeff Jacobson’s blog at http://www.weirdocult.com and Joey Nix’s blog at http://joeynix.wordpress.com

Sources:

http://nashvillearts.com/2013/05/07/street-art-graffiti-in-belle-meade/

Sidewalk Project #1, Bowling Av, Brighton to Woondmont Av, Another Update…

In regards to right-of-ways/easements on Bowling - I spoke with Rick Kirkpatrick at Public Works on 1/22/2014.  According to Rick, 'right-of-way is not an issue'.  He stated that right-of-ways are very rarely a problem in Nashville - 98% of the time 'not an issue'.  

He quoted an estimate of 1.2M for the completion of the Bowling sidewalk to Woodmont Av and believed it was for one side of the street - not both.  Main expense would be in moving utility poles and changes need to 'decorative' items such as stone walls.  In addition, drainage would need to be addressed.  

Lastly, he said that since the demand in this area is low - it does not score high on the priority index making it unlikely to be started any time soon.  

My next thought was to look up parcel information on each property that would be effected.  This will provide information on owner and also a place to draw or list possible obstructions.  Then, I thought I would write to each owner and gauge their interest in a sidewalk and their willingness to move/change their hardscapes to allow placement of sidewalk if the sidewalk could be completed.  I would also like to gauge interest in donations to this cause as I think many people would be willing to help match funding in order to have a sidewalk.  

I have recently been reading about Walk Scores and their impact on both individual home owners and to local governments.  A one point increase in Walk Scores appears to equate to about a $3000 increase in home value for most metropolitan areas.  For local governments, heavily dependent on higher tax revenues via increased property values, this appears to be a win-win.  

The Walk Score for Bowling - the southern expanse without sidewalks - is 31 with a bike score of 36 - considered car dependent.   When compared to the walkability of Bowling, where sidewalks line both sides of the street, the Walk Score jumps to 51 with a bike score 66 and is considered somewhat walkable.  If the increase of $3000/one pt in Walk Score is to be believed - increasing walkability to the level of the north side of Bowling on the south end would increase property values by $60k.  That would be a significant boon for homeowners and local governments.  

I do have to say that I am sort of suspicious that the right-of-way is a little more complicated that described above…

Rachel Domm for Shade Parade Nashville

Rachel Domm has graciously agreed to help Shade Parade create a logo.  We couldn't be more pleased.  She is a great designer and artist & you should take the time to view her work at the hyperlink below.  

Originally, she is from near Nashville - Columbia, TN - so has a clear link to our goal of a better Nashville.  

Rachel Domm

Window art is particularly appealing to Shade Parade Nashville - anything that increases amusement while walking…

Smile

Have you ever noticed that, when people are exercising, they often look like this?  

It is so lovely that you cannot help smiling back.  

It is terribly difficult to be grumpy when your body is in motion.

Nashvillians, I dare you to just put on your shoes and go…

Photographs by Denise Schatz - Views From the Sidewalk or Why Serendipity Matters

For a long time, little respect has been given to walking. 

'Walkability is at the heart of urban vibrancy - short blocks, population density & diversity and mix of uses, building types and ages that all play out in a "sidewalk ballet" - Jacobs, 1961.

'Implied opportunities for serendipitous interactions' are an appeal of walking around one's city.

The creation of a walkable landscape is both a function of public and private intentions.  

Photos by Denise Schatz (from the book NIH NIH, Miniature Garden 2014)

Miniature Garden

Sources:  

Joe Cortright, Impressa, Inc., for CEOs for Cities.  (2009).  Walking the Walk:  How Walkability Raises Home Values in U.S. Cities

Jacobs, J. (1961). The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House

Nih Nih.  Haikus by Jamie Stewart, Drawings and Photos by Denise Schatz, Insert by Casey Cook.

Shade Parade Nashville Hearts NYC

Why does Shade Parade Nashville love New York?

Without even trying, goal of greater than 10k steps per day is easily accomplishable.  Walk scores of 87.5 and greater.  America's most walkable city.  Incredibly amusing with loads of visually interesting things to see.  On a grid.  Numerous parks, benches, plazas.  

Everywhere you look - people walking.

As Nashvillian's travel and benefit from the ease of walkability in other cities - maybe they will return to demand more walkable landscapes here. 

Sidewalk Project #4, My House

Ok, you want sidewalks? 

So, put one in front of your house. 

Or, can you?

Above is a picture of my front yard - typical of most in Nashville.

The area in front of most homes, where a sidewalk would be placed, is located in a right-of-way - an easement - technically owned by the city. 


In order to respect this, my proposed plan was to build a regulation sidewalk with the dimensions and qualification Public Works deemed necessary, funded by me and created by my contractor.
 

'In the 17 years I have worked here, this is a new one', was the honest response from Public Works.

My contractor met Roy and Mike from Public Works, Permits Office, at my house to evaluate it for sidewalk placement. 




Numerous people have warned me that the sidewalk issue is complex in Nashville.  

  Just a few quotes from our discussion…

  

- not as simple as it seems

- won't be able to park out front

- not advisable

- will loose all your trees

- biggest issues is drainage

- water will run onto neighbors yard

- may get sued.  Water will run onto street and if someone hydroplanes...

- water meter would need to be raised, water line may possible need to be elevated

- would need a water study

- sidewalk would need to be elevated so its grade is towards the road…would need a lot of fill

- impractical

- zero % chance that Public Works would fund sidewalks on this street

- if done to standards, could not use a permeable concrete (such as at Convention Center downtown Nashville)

- could be pointed at as a crazy idea

- a 'sidewalk to nowhere'
- would not look great
- need to cut down the trees
- neighbors would not like it
- liable if you build it
- kills trees
- between 25-30K to complete

 Then, they turned to me & asked why I wanted to do such a thing…

A sidewalk in front on my house - a small strip with no connection to other sidewalks is not ideal.  I hear what they are saying above.  

But, I believe in sidewalks.  Nashville needs them. But, progress on sidewalk creation has been woefully slow.  I want a place for my children to play that is not in the road or driveway.  I also think that others do, too.  In addition, I believe others would be willing to pay for such a 'luxury' as it has grander implication such as improved quality of life and home values. 

This could be a model for how to get sidewalks on your street…   

The advise was to talk with neighbors.  Get a petition.  Talk to councilperson.  It was noted that my street had a high volume of walkers who would appreciate a sidewalk and possibly the 'juice' to make it happen. 

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