Good Design Downtown – Turn Benches Around
Preservation is not merely about protecting old buildings, but also preserving communities and a way-of-life. For over 150 years there has been a downtown Wyandotte way-of-life. It has had its ups and downs no doubt, but goes on to this very day. I know this to be true, for now I am writing this article in the hip and attractive Energie Café (with free wireless Internet access for those who bring their own computer).
The proposition to start a business in a downtown anywhere today is a tough sell. Merchants have to compete with the big chains that have cheap and easily accessible parking, lower prices from selling in higher-volumes, and glitzy national marketing campaigns.
There is help, however, for business owners who choose to go up against these big odds. In the 1970s the National Trust for Historic Preservation realized how making businesses in small towns viable was a preservation issue – no business, no buildings. And their response? Formation of the Main Street program (www.mainstreet.org/), a comprehensive approach to community revitalization, emphasizing organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.
Focusing on all of these elements is necessary, but in this article I will focus on one element – design. Too often, government regulations and the needs expressed by business owners are all that is considered in design, resulting in places that are boring, ugly, and empty. Good design begins by asking what can we do to make places that are fun and entertaining, so that people will visit and return again and again?
For example, take the fountain and park at the south-west corner of Biddle and Eureka. Cold water spouts from valves in the sidewalk, and creates a wonderful place for children to play. All that is bad about this good design is that it is several blocks away from where businesses are and the action is at – downtown.
Now, imagine if we were able to magically move this popular fountain to the area near the clock-tower, benches, and pergola, beside the charming Tudor Revival style Owl’s Korner Gift Shop. What effect might this have? Immediately foot traffic in this area would double and activity of surrounding businesses would likely increase. If the fountain needed to be turned off for performances or events, it could; but otherwise it would serve as a magnet attracting people to the heart of downtown.
While such a project would require capital investment and planning, there are things that may be done immediately to create a more people-friendly downtown.
Wyandotte’s recent streetscape project resulted in the placement of several “official” green benches. I have no complaint about the benches, except there are too few, they are in the wrong location, and most face the wrong direction. Think about it – when sitting down, would you prefer to look at parked cars and traffic rushing by? Of course not.
Turning the benches around to face nearby windows (which are full of colorful and interesting things – for sale!) would draw attention to the two things people come downtown for – the shops and people (passing by on the sidewalk between the bench and building).
For my readers who are overly conservative or fearful of change, instead of turning around all of the benches, perhaps try to change just a few. Or better yet, conduct a study on “The Effectiveness and Usability of the Placement and Orientation of Downtown Seating and How to Make it More Entertaining” – then change them. Toss in a little public art like the bull sculpture in front of Merrill Lynch or the larger than life bear in front of Rivers Edge Gallery (most which can be done overnight) then Wyandotte becomes a cooler and more attractive place to visit than it already is.
As I can hope you see, the business of making better places requires just a little bit of thought and can even be fun – after all that is what our intended effect is, so why not practice what we preach!
Next week I will turn my attention to the public spaces in downtown Wyandotte, including the wonderful café scene that has been popping up, and recommend how we can support and reinforce this trend, and to make these better places better too.
As published in the Downtown Review.