Building a Better Canal Walk

Richmond citizens recently got together to imagine ways the 1.25 mile Canal Walk could become an exceptional destination spot and community space.

Around 40 people attended a collaborative session on the future of the Historic Canal Walk, hosted by Sixth District Councilwoman Ellen Robertson at the Hat Factory on Aug. 28.

How do you get an engaging community conversation started about the Canal Walk and sidestep the 10 years that have passed without much success?

The first thing was to ask attendees to bring a creative mindset to the public event "Discovering A Community Imagination of the Canal: Its purpose, ambition and sensations."

In Richmond, that’s not a difficult task.

The harder part was probably leaving the "Devil’s Advocate hats on the shelf," and bringing an optimistic outlook, as requested by Alchemy, the team of consultants and designers who capably moderated the public event.

For three hours the goal was to put on our thinking caps and seek clarity in definition for uses of the Canal. There was no mention of Echo Harbour or the mysterious Black Hole that disappears many a well-financed Richmond project. In fact, the only tense moments came with discussion about chain-store commerce.

MANY INTERESTS TO ACCOMMODATE

The Canal Walk and surrounding areas are jewels that many cities lack. The riverfront undoubtedly holds the potential to host great community spaces for residents, outdoorsy types, buskers, vendors, singles, couples, families, cosmopolitans, professionals, students, and tourists alike.

Robertson thought the conversation was a necessary way to include all the diverse interests and demographics that will hopefully come to appreciate the Canal Walk.

"It’s hard to make something useful and special, and all these things need to find a place or a process that is thoughtfully put together so everybody feels a sense of commitment and pride in it, " said Robertson.

"Alchemy opened the event by saying clearly that creating great places is hard because it’s so complex," added Robertson.

Alchemy also quoted William Whyte, who said; "It’s hard to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished."

A majority present were City of Richmond affiliates, developers, or business owners. Who else gets up early on a Saturday morning for a three hour public meeting? However, the most vocal participants were Bottom residents, or interested citizens--an estimated 12 total. A developer of the soon-to-be 225 apartments at the former Reynolds site, long the obstacle impeding cohesion along the Canal Walk, was in attendance taking notes.

CREATING A PLACE, NOT JUST A DESIGN

Dynamism was the mantra of the day.

"The Canal was about dynamism--movement and optimism," said Mark Brady of Alchemy, as he pointed out that the Canal was originally an innovation in the form of water, wood, metal and stone.

Alchemy helped midwife the audience’s imagination by inquiring how we view the Canal Walk as both a place and as an experience.

"The Canal Walk is an intersection of place, product, service, and event, " said Shelli Brady, President of Alchemy.

There were handouts, exercises, brainstorming and sharing. We were given huge maps that spanned the length of the table. Wielding neon markers, each table drafted their own fantasy Canal Walk.

While there was plenty of bold thinking, some ideas simply covered the forgotten basics; parking, food and bathrooms. How can a spot hailed as a destination by the Virginia Tourism Corporation overlook bathrooms? No, portable toilets don’t count!

How can Richmond prove that we are able to think in fresh, progressive ways and capable of creating great public spaces when the essentials aren’t even first covered?

"I think having people break down how they viewed the canal functioning on a weekend or weekday, what it’s like during the day or nighttime, opened some eyes about how narrow we can sometimes be as we think about what’s possible," said Robertson.

WITH NO FURTHER ADO

Several ideas need to be implemented immediately by the City.

Jack Berry, executive director of Venture Richmond, suggested the Turning Basin Building, "as a site for a future River District Visitor Center and public restrooms." Restrooms are already a necessity, but will be even more so when the Capitol Trail is completed and Richmond welcomes traffic from other counties, even states.

Public restrooms should also be designed into the mixed-use space soon to be developed at the old Reynolds site.

State and federal parking garages need to be opened for free after 6pm on weekdays and on weekends. Let’s use what we already have. Eugene, Ore. does this for their weekly Saturday Market, which receives an estimated 5,000 weekly visitors. According to Nickolas Coile, architect and Shockoe Bottom resident, there are five large parking garages close to the Canal.

"We have enough parking to probably park anyone that would ever want to come to the downtown," said Coile. "We just need to learn to share."

Coile and his wife Linda also pushed for better crossing at Dock and 21st St. and an additional one between 21st and Pear St. This will facilitate better, safer pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

"Also, it would be helpful if we had flashing lights alerting the cars to pedestrian crossings and how they should yield, as the signs don’t seem to be sufficient," said Coile.

It was clear that a strong majority want to interact with the Canal, not just observe it. There was a demand for fewer restrictions and for biking, pet walking, and even kayaking through the Canal. While Venture Richmond said ticket sales have increased for the Canal boat cruises that run on evenings and weekends, many want more use from the Canal. Also mentioned was an observation deck for the rapids.

These modifications come with a price tag, but many can be done inexpensively, especially in regards to the greater return—more people on the riverfront.

LOCALS DON’T NEED TO PLAY TOUR GUIDE

Put in more signs.

There was a consensus that the Canal needs to be better marked. To entice suburban and tourist traffic, make sure it is easy for visitors to grasp their surroundings and Canal attractions. Signs don’t have to be confined to Canal Walk either. Local developer Margaret Freund, of Fulton Hill Properties, recommended using rooftops for advertising to both pedestrians and overhead highway traffic. Remind people that the area has bars, food, music, shopping.

OTHER GOOD IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE

What good is it to haul your kids down to the Canal only to find lack of cheap, family food options?

"Vendors are highly desired on the Canal, but they haven’t been willing to be there because there is not enough traffic," said Berry. "We have even subsidized them in the past."

Berry was interested in the suggestion of a "Food Cart Throwdown" at the Canal. Turn it into a festival and get people down to the riverfront. It will provide many of us a chance to sample all the yummy food that gets served mainly to the business/VCU/MCV crowds.

Some other suggestions having little to with retail or condos, which emphasized use of the Canal Walk as a public space:

• Treehouse for kids.


• A CMoR based on a river theme: ecology, history and activities.


• Zip line.


• Murals.


• Sculptures.


• "Bike library" that would require a driver’s license to check out a bike for Canal riding.


• Climbing Wall.

STAY ENGAGED AND CONTRIBUTE YOUR IDEAS

The Downtown Master Plan process was historic for its engagement of citizens, although some might proclaim that the bureaucracy eventually whittled away at fantastic urban planning.

"I think awareness of possibilities has grown clearer thanks to the Downtown Master Plan process," said Roberston. "I feel that we’re making steps toward better considering growth and opportunity for underserved citizens needs."

The challenge at the Canal Walk, and riverfront, is to strike a balance with holistic development. Retail can’t be ignored or lost to other counties. The City also can’t compromise its history and natural resources for frivolous development.

The community will have another opportunity to contribute when the Riverfront Plan is undertaken by the City’s Department of Community Development. Proposals are still under review for a riverfront design study. But it seems as though the process will move fast once a proposal is accepted.

"We still do expect the plan to be substantially complete by spring," said Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Alix Bryan is an espresso slamming, beagle loving, multimedia junkie. She has shaken martini’s, managed kitchens, prepared vegetarian dishes, sold hardware, pulled ristretto shots, freelanced for websites, and visited every state in America except Alaska. Last year she returned to Richmond to complete her Master’s in Multimedia Journalism. After five years away she was pleasantly surprised to find so many improvements in the local scene.