2.0. HRSR 03-10-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

car(with wide streets and parking lots) and buildings set back signifi- cantly from the street. It is difficult to establish strong local character in such an environment, and impractical to create a reasonably corn- !) fortable pedestrian environment. • Walnut Street is a lightly traveled when compared to Pine Street, but nearly continuous street between the mall area and the downtown. It - does not connect to the river; an embankment at River Street and a ..�- parking lot character at Broadway break its continuity. . _ . Vii•`: • Major community entry points are terribly underutilized. Pine Street i. " �'0 is anchored by bridges and major natural or man-made features at either end. These anchors should be defined to create an announce- Industrial activities... ment of the Monticello community at those points. • Uses that are not exclusively retail, and those that have a more"industrial" character (often with less desirable • West and East Bridge Park, the cemetery, and other bits of green try to aesthetics),still can be a part of down- establish a foothold along the Pine Street corridor. Some of these town. They represent an active, spaces could become significant to a pattern that breaks the stronghold diverse, working downtown. These uses often have forms that are interest- of the automobile. ing to look at,but they need to be dealt with in a way that makes the elements • The downtown has a density of development that sets it apart from feel like amenities for downtown rather than unpleasant necessities. other areas of the community. Other commercial areas are sparse in comparison, and could benefit from development that maximizes the use of available land. • The Fire Hall and Library could stand as important community/civic . symbols, but they are completely unrelated. Their proximity to one another should be seen as a pattern to build upon. c`"'� �.t • The "holes" in downtown might be seen as an opportunity to create • ' i%7. .:(- something new, but in the short term they send a poor message about 1.— _— f 10 Monticello's downtown. The remaining buildings deserve to have this space become something on an interim basis -- a more park-like �! �•ti`` appearance would be most welcome. • • The Mississippi River is the community's great untapped resource. ' Bridge Park begins to create a public space related to the resource, but The Mississippi River... • Until the bridge is crossed, you might it is not connected to downtown in a way that creates a mutual benefit. not know that Monticello is a "river town." The great resource of the • As Bridge Park is reconsidered as a downtown park, the view across Mississippi River is not recognized in the river becomes paramount. The community needs to assure itself bawntdwn,nod the park aspng its banks does not reflect the spirit of that the investment they make in the downtown and riverfront is downtown. A new kind of"bridge" reflected in what happens at the opposite bank of the river. must be created to link a revitalized downtown Monticello with its stretch of this great American river. • The mall could be a great complement to downtown, drawing people to the community and sharing customers with other local businesses. But today, it stands nearly empty, void of life and isolated from its sur- roundings. It needs to be reconnected to the local fabric of the com- munity. • A New Bridge Revftaltdng Monticello's Downtown and Rlverfront - Page 1:15