CUMBERLAND AVENUE PUBLIC MEETING

Public Meeting Comments from November 9, 2006 Meeting Qualities you would like to see in 5- years Pedestrians/Bicycles Time traffic signals to be more pedestrian friendly (shorter cycle lengths) More pedestrian friendly Larger, safer pedestrian passages Safer pedestrian crossings Safer for bicycles, bike lanes Safe and enjoyable bicycle & pedestrian environment – bike lanes, streets, trees, well marked crosswalks, slower speeds Bike lanes along the entire corridor, which will connect to future bike lanes. Bike lockers like the ones in the parking garages by Market Square for travelers & commuters Pedestrian, pedestrian, pedestrian!!!! Scale of the street and atmosphere to create “social” space Re-surfacing of sidewalks More pedestrian orientation – fewer cars – move room for bikes , strollers & wheelchairs Much more of a pedestrian friendly place Separating walking versus bike lanes is critical. Its hard to ride and walk in the same space Pedestrian sidewalks should be larger to accommodate large crowds, straight access from the dorms, fort & campus Barrier between pedestrian and vehicles Safer foot traffic, barriers (hedges for example) that keep pedestrians on crosswalks More attractive sidewalks Wide sidewalks with trees Pedestrian – bike Pedestrian appeal for all users Parking All parking and deliveries in the back of buildings More parking in rear of buildings Parking garages that allow people who make purchases/eat on the strip to allow up to 2 hours for free parking Ample parking in centralized location parking garage Limit or eliminate parking in front of businesses – this will do the most to reduce accidents On street parking Parking made easier All parking in the back Move parking from the front of the buildings to the back Shared parking within the district Less cars in my view, smaller lanes, slower traffic, off street parking, parking garages – that don’t look like parking garages Mixed Use/Retail Environment Unique local businesses – no more chains! Loose the “free way exit restaurant spread” less fast food – allow other vendors – unique eateries. Increase retail on the strip More markets/open or farmers markets I feel the commercial space is wasted; vacant or closed lots 24 hour activity A children’s museum on the water Diverse shops – healthy image Apartments over shops, office and parking structures Wide variety of retail uses (books, clothes & groceries) Have more one- of a kind restaurants not chain restaurants Higher/greater density – people living above Sunspot or the bank. Design standards no more boxing crap – taco hell – krystals architecture Character “feel”/Public Realm Less cars in my view, smaller lanes, slower traffic, off street parking, parking garages – that don’t look like parking garages Unique local businesses – no more chains! Less visual clutter/enhanced streetscape UT needs to respect the neighborhood! Stop tearing down historic structures & integrate new construction into existing land use Loose the “free way exit restaurant spread” less fast food – allow other vendors – unique eateries. Less clutter – billboards, high signs, telephone pole wires Aesthetically pleasing A beautiful place to have a cup of coffee, a beer or dinner Aesthetically beautiful entrance to the neighborhood, University & downtown More of an avenue or boulevard feel More continuity in design Homeless Respectful of existing historic architecture developed Modern architecture – downtown atmosphere, sharp angles Natural beauty structures, crosswalks, greenspace, cleanliness! No big signage – NEON Vibrant community instead of transient area Pedestrian, pedestrian, pedestrian!!!! Scale of the street and atmosphere to create “social” space Form based codes A clean well lit place in greenspaces and in others missing Curb the panhandling! Less lack of infill. Push parking & housing away. More density Fewer store signs on the south side of the street – make it more subtle like the north side Signage needs to be more uniform Removal of unsightly advertising Less visual clutter Unified look for strip street scape A healthy, clean, individual spot ! Reduce visual clutter – bury power lines, codify signage, make visually appealing, lighting & directional Like “Mayberry” Make a place that people don’t just go to but they stay in Make Fort Sanders a community again. Not a 3-5 year home for students SEC character – a place where the students hang out example – GA, Ole Miss & Alabama. Higher/greater density – people living above Sunspot or the bank. Design standards no more boxing crap – taco hell – krystals architecture Keep the scale in check – not downtown but not Farragut Less Panhandling One unique lighting identity Density should be limited in terms of high rises There are no good outdoor gathering spaces adjacent to the strip for concerts, etc. Don’t treat the homeless like something to hide Be visually pleasing as well as easy accessability to al parts of the strip from campus, Fort Saunders, downtown, etc. Green More green vegetation on strip center More green spaces – trees planted down the sidewalks – flower pots that are maintained – less concrete! Greener More recycling/green – environmentally friendly clean spaces Plant more trees & grass and get rid of asphalt Fresh – trees, pedestrians not so close to stagnant car exhaust Pervious pavements, more greenery using native species Wide sidewalks with trees Increased landscaping More trees and landscaping – visually more attractive More street trees Setbacks with greenspace, trees & grass Traffic Control/Management /Transit Wider streets – how will this effect businesses & commercial appeal to the UT campus in general Loose the “free way exit restaurant spread” less fast food – allow other vendors – unique eateries. 20 mph speed limit, motorized traffic volume down to 20% of present Safer and more efficient traffic flow – vehicular, bike & pedestrian Push more traffic to Neyland and other outside routes with less traffic lights. Cumberland should not serve as a spine for parking structures Better all around pedestrian access to businesses, safer vehicular flows & parking. Pedestrian bridges? Think GAME DAY! Better traffic flow – traffic calming Slower speeds on Cumberland Don’t divert traffic to Clinch Ave. Use transit to de-amphasize through traffic and emphasize peripheral parking Bus pullouts impede transit Ideal plan for the strip would be no autos….perhaps a two trolley system and re-routing cars to alleys and garages Connections Strong connection to downtown – redevelop 11th Street and Cumberland area Bike lanes along the entire corridor, which will connect to future bike lanes. Bike lockers like the ones in the parking garages by Market Square for travelers & commuters Many students live in South Knoxville, other employees of the university and others need better links to the university Gateways Connections to the strip from the for, dorms and academic buildings need to be improved as much as the strip Be visually pleasing as well as easy accessability to al parts of the strip from campus, Fort Saunders, downtown, etc. Other Greater definition of boundaries & modes. 17th & Cumberland are entries to strip & downtown Hospital & University collaboration Emergency phones (call boxes) Listen to what the community wants, not just to what would benefit business or your wallets