Roundtable: Is Galesburg downtown built for cars instead of people?
Columnist Joe Hicks wrote that downtown Galesburg is built for cars rather than people, and he suggests a focus more on people. What do you think?
Downtown needs to be destination, not another stop
I appreciate Joe’s columns; he really makes me think. The goal of diminishing the dominance of cars downtown is a good one, but tricky to accomplish. You can turn some non-highway streets into pedestrian malls, but that only makes sense for ones that are dense with retail, food and entertainment venues. And that have adequate convenient parking close by. Right now, only South Seminary fits the bill. Maybe North Seminary sometime soon.
Closing streets prematurely could frustrate more than delight. Slowing traffic is another approach to the same goal. Going back to angle parking on Main Street would help, but I suspect would be a hard sell to the public works department. And Main Street is the heart of the issue. For most people, that’s what they think of when you say “downtown.” The city and KCAP could help by prioritizing the kinds of retail venues for key blocks that could help make them more pedestrian-attractive, perhaps with incentives. Downtown has to be a destination for Galesburgers, not just another stop on the shopping list. — David Amor
Joe Hicks column:Joe Hicks: Downtown Galesburg doesn’t work when it’s for cars
Federal regulations with U.S. 150 make design changes difficult
It’s always good to use imagination when thinking about urban spaces and Mr. Hicks has obviously used his.
In the 50 years we have been back in town, I have seen downtown assume many identities. There was the downtown village with the quaint brick arches. There was the National Trust Main Street Project which showed people how to enhance the look of their buildings. We’ve gone from diagonal parking with meters to the free-form lines that we now endure.
The main problem with any plan is, as Joe pointed out, Main Street is also U.S. highway 150 and thus governed by federal rules and regulations. That makes any local efforts very difficult.
In his article, Mr. Hicks says his “argument is that we should design for people first, and cars last.” I would like to hear some specifics of his design ideas are and how they could be implemented. — Harry Bulkeley
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Lofts, condos and reasons to go downtown are keys to success
The article about downtown has some merit. Even in the '60s, downtown Galesburg certainly had its share of foot traffic. As that dwindled and the mall came to town, some of the merchants tried to maintain the attraction to that area. There actually are multi-use sections of larger metro markets that have a small downtown feel. The streets are narrow, there are a lot of retail/restaurant spaces and you generally park away from this micro downtown or in a parking garage nearby. But those pedestrian friendly areas designed like a small-town downtown are generally in high dollar markets with condos and even grocery stores as part of the plan.
For Galesburg’s downtown to be even somewhat more amicable to the days when the streets were full of people, you would simply need more reasons to go there. And you would actually need more people to live there with lofts, condos and other friendly living spaces for people that would like that walking lifestyle. First Fridays on Seminary, the Taste of Galesburg, Wednesday concerts are all part of that, but, frankly, many would rather trek around the internet for goods and cat videos than actually take a walk. Just think, if downtown had 100s of people walking around like back in the day, everyone would be bumping into each other as they focused on texting their experience of walking in downtown Galesburg. — Stephen Podwojski
Internet shopping will continue to make downtown options less attractive
Hicks’s column was kind of amusing. I spent most of my life living and/or working in Chicago. What he thinks of heavy and fast moving traffic doesn’t come close.
Galesburg has several "commercial" or "business" areas, but I presume Hicks is referring to the Main Street area. Since the town was built close to two centuries ago, I can’t imagine that it was “built for cars rather than people.” No, I think the city evolved into a car-centric place, just as most municipalities have.
I agree, though, in his point that there are not a whole lot of people walking the streets of Galesburg, but, except for specific events, why should they? And if Hicks thinks the automobile is the cause he should look forward. The recent pandemic showed that shopping on the internet will make walking downtown even less attractive to people. There will be less traffic downtown, foot and automotive. — Charlie Gruner
Change will require strategic planning and investment
While the premise of Mr. Hicks's suggestions deserves consideration, revamping our downtown will require much more than trying to adjust a few things to solve a larger issue. As he pointed out, it's accurate to say people tend to gather where other people gather. Cities with thriving downtowns have several attributes in common such as suitable parking, a variety of choices for dining, outdoor seating, live arts and entertainment, popular chain stores and niche retail shops. Patrons will frequent places that offer a variety of choices.Consumers expect their options to be convenient. Popular businesses in a bustling downtown are usually within walking distance of each establishment. Young professionals and families are often the target customer demographics. Driving to the Quad Cities or Peoria for a weekend night on the town is lost revenue that should be staying in our own community. Accomplishing some of these goals will make Galesburg a more desirable destination, but it will require serious strategic planning and investments from the city and other potential stakeholders. — John Hunigan
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In a perfect world, there could always be something exciting going on in our downtown. If not Railroad Days then the Taste of Galesburg and if not that then some other community activity like a parade. Most days our downtown functions as a business district.
I do agree that our downtown can be made more pedestrian friendly but I don’t think that there is a viable way to get cars to stop driving through the center of it especially since our Main Street is also Highway 150 from Henderson Street to Grand Avenue. I would like to see Main Street revert back to the way it used to be with pull-in parking on both sides and one lane going in each direction but I don’t know if that is reasonable with today’s traffic. I would love to see sidewalk cafes and more people taking leisurely walks in our downtown area. — Jeannette Chernin
We gave up Golden Age for freedom cars provide
When I read this, I immediately thought of the Golden Age of Monmouth transportation, roughly 1900-1914. There was a thriving downtown, with streetcars making a figure eight loop around the town, with light rail lines running to Galesburg and the Quad Cities, with dozens of trains stopping every day.
Citizens could have horses, but they were hardly practical — requiring daily feeding, currying, exercising. The rich had carriage houses, but kept the horses in stables elsewhere; everyone else walked.
Women without servants liked public transportation in good weather, but not carrying their purchases home from the streetcar stops on snowy or hot days. Consequently, they bought basic items from neighborhood “mom and pop” stores; they canned fruits and vegetables, and washed clothes by hand; they killed their own chickens.
We gave that up for the freedom that cars provide. Still, there is always room for change, if proposals are clearly explained. — William Urban
The Community Roundtable runs each Sunday and is made up of local writers. Community writers answer one question each week in 150 words or fewer.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Roundtable: Is Galesburg downtown built for cars instead of people?
