State Street is getting a major facelift, with construction currently happening on the 100 block and plans for development on the 500, 700 and 800 blocks in the works. The question is whether or not this is a good thing for the downtown area.
To answer that question, the first thing you have to do is separate the three projects. While they are all going to shape how State Street looks in the future, I don’t think that it has to be an all or none proposition. Each project is dealing with different issues and goals and has to be evaluated on its own.
The 100 block renovation that is already underway is a positive for the area. The plans went through many revisions, and, at the end of the day, it looks as though they were able to maintain the historic character of the area while also providing a more modern feel. To me, that is very important, since State Street has very much evolved in the last 50 years. I personally have never understood the need to completely maintain the status quo simply for its own sake.
That feeling came up again at the first public input meeting for the redevelopment of the 700 and 800 blocks. It’s more likely you know those blocks as the lane that runs from Lake St. to Park St., past Library Mall. The meeting focused on what parts of this area should be preserved and what parts can be changed for the future. The discussion has been largely about how much people like the fountains but do not really see the need for the several concrete forms that, in my opinion, tend to clutter the space. That development is in the earliest stages, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Overall, however, I think they have the right idea of incorporating more of what makes the area great, while leaving out some of what happened to be built in the ’70s and probably is no longer necessary.
Finally, plans for the 500 block are, in the short-term, going to have the most significance for downtown businesses. I think Roast Public House, which will have to relocate or go out of business once construction begins, has done a great job of adding to the culture of State Street since it opened last year. Great beer, food and a pingpong table in the basement – I mean, I don’t think you really need anything else. So it is definitely disappointing that they will be affected by this, along with other businesses in the area, although I’m not as familiar with them. But as several alders have said, the University Inn, the building that holds Roast as well as the parking lot behind those businesses, is a very underutilized part of the area.
Hopefully, The Hub, as the development is tentatively titled, will bring a unique new vibe to the area. As a person who currently lives on the street and loves it, a large apartment complex on State sounds like a great idea to me. And although it’s unfortunate that a few current businesses will be affected, the short-term negatives don’t outweigh the potential long-term benefits.
With a historic and vital area like State Street, it is easy to get stuck focusing on the past and the immediate present. But it is crucial for the city to continue to improve as we move forward into the 21st century. All three of these developments are, in their own way, helping with that transition.
John Waters ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism.
