tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post114930910674857407..comments2024-03-09T13:49:36.566-06:00Comments on Prairie Bluestem: Alleys and New UrbanismGenevieve Netzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-1149351008986345182006-06-03T11:10:00.000-05:002006-06-03T11:10:00.000-05:00WIP,There are alleys in Hopkinsville that I wouldn...WIP,<BR/><BR/>There are alleys in Hopkinsville that I wouldn't walk, even in daylight. I wouldn't want to live near an alley that had a lot of illegal activity in it. <BR/><BR/>If the alleys could be brought back under control in such places, I think the crime rate would drop dramatically!<BR/><BR/>But in planning for urban renewal and for new development, it makes sense to have lighted one-way streets serving the rear of the house as well as the usual streets in front. If neighbors regularly travel the alleys, it actually increases security.Genevieve Netzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-1149350042128584332006-06-03T10:54:00.000-05:002006-06-03T10:54:00.000-05:00Trixie, Thanks for your comment. A little store t...Trixie, <BR/>Thanks for your comment. <BR/><BR/>A little store that carries the staples of life is great to have in the neighborhood. <BR/><BR/>The problem, of course, is that in the U.S., so many mom and pop stores have been forced out of business by larger stores. It takes some real commitment from the neighborhood to support a little store. <BR/><BR/>There wouldn't be such a problem with a little store getting enough business to survive if everyone had to <I>walk</I> to WalMart and Kroger. ;)<BR/> <BR/>Here's a <A HREF="http://www.newurbannews.com/AboutNewUrbanism.html" REL="nofollow">list of typical characterisics of New Urban communities</A> (scroll down). We need this sort of development even in Hopkinsville. More and more of our good farmland goes under asphalt and concrete each year. It is sickening to watch.Genevieve Netzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-1149349863941855512006-06-03T10:51:00.000-05:002006-06-03T10:51:00.000-05:00I have a friend who lives in Memphis in a neighbor...I have a friend who lives in Memphis in a neighborhood with alleys. Unfortunately, their alleyway is as described in the Wikipedia definition. However, as this neighborhood is circa early 1900 (beautiful bungalows/arts & crafts-style), you can easily imagine that these alleys were put to good use back in the day.<BR/><BR/>Here in Nashville, there are many neighborhoods that are very walkable, thanks to sidewalks, but there are more that are not. I wonder if this city will have the sense enough to try to help create more connection between neighbors by building more sidewalks, or even decent, well-lit alleyways. The benefits could be numerous, if done correctly. Trixie's reminiscence of having an easy shortcut to her friend's house brought a smile to my face. How many kids miss out on things like that these days? Maybe this treatise on New Urbanism will bring a little more awareness to the masses.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for being a ray of sunshine, Genevieve. :)<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>WIPWrkinprogresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856828776670191811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-1149313109260650222006-06-03T00:38:00.000-05:002006-06-03T00:38:00.000-05:00I have rather fond memories of the alleys of my ch...I have rather fond memories of the alleys of my childhood. In my hometown, they were not nearly so wide as the one in the photo. For the most part, the ones in residential areas were a one-lane gravel road down the middle of the block running behind the houses. That was where the garbage cans were kept for the sanitation trucks to pick up twice a week. There was some vehicle traffic, but it was sporadic. <BR/><BR/>For me, the alley was also a cut-through way for me to reach my friends' houses in a hurry. My best friend lived on the next block, with her house facing the next street over. But from my back door to hers, through the alley, I could get there in 30 seconds. Gosh, we used to talk for hours on the phone and then time each other to see how long it took to get to the other's house! LOL.<BR/><BR/>Once newer neighborhoods were built in my hometown, alleys gave way to "easements." All that amounted to was determining where fences could be placed in order to give utility companies the access they need. Trash pickup moved to the front of the houses, on the streets, and in those polycarts. Pickup was reduced to once a week. But sidewalks were still built in these neighborhoods, for which I am thankful. They are a rare thing in the city where I've lived as an adult. <BR/><BR/>One of the major declines, in my opinion, is the death of local grocery stores. Neighborhoods have a hard time surviving when buying groceries becomes a time-consuming operation.Trixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405956286050242058noreply@blogger.com