[CORRECTION: This post was updated Aug. 7 to reflect corrections, in italics.] A pilot program will turn East Cherry Street into a pedestrian mall on weekends for the rest of the year, starting next month. this fall.
Beginning Aug. 1 in September, East Cherry Street will close to vehicular traffic from 5 p.m. on Fridays until 9 a.m. on Mondays. City Council unanimously approved a resolution (AR-162) on Monday night that makes the changes in effect until Dec. 29.
The idea of making downtown’s signature street a pedestrian mall often comes up from time to time, including some years ago on this site and as recently as Tuesday on our Facebook wall.
City Administrator Cherron Rountree said the city will monitor the pilot and make changes if necessary, or even end it if it doesn’t work out. Temporary concrete planters likely will be used to block off the two ends of East Cherry Street at Main and Irving streets, she added. While the resolution allows for closing to vehicular traffic as of Aug. 1, Rountree said the city isn’t yet ready to roll out the pilot program until sometime in September.
City Council also approved a resolution (AR-160) that will close Irving Street between East Milton Avenue and Cherry street and Lewis Street between Irving and Main streets for an East Coast/West Coast Craft Beer & Band Festival. The event, to benefit the Union County Performing Arts Center, will be Sept. 13 (rain date Sept. 14) from noon to 8 p.m.
About time they did something to encourage people to get out in the downtown area.
I’m curious–were the merchants on Cherry St asked for their input on this? Are there any planned events to boost the number of pedestrians on weekends?
Who is selecting the bands for the Beer & Band Festival?
Sound like a decent idea (though not sure what the purpose actually is). It isn’t like Cherry Street has any useful parking anyway.
I don’t know what this is going to do. They still have to give people a REASON to go downtown. Too many empty stores, or stores that aren’t open. There should be an ordinance downtown that businesses must stay open certain hours.
No stores worth visiting except The Waiting Room.
I agree with Alexander, closing cherry street is a wonderful idea, but there has to be a reason to go down town. Small weekly events should be a part of this pedestrian mall. Do-wop, bag pipers, we even had bike nights on cherry street that filled that tiny street and the Waiting Room had an outside band. Creating a nice pedestrian mall is a good idea, but only one half a good idea.