A new Google Maps mashup on the Community Walk website provides information on Cincinnati's numerous public steps, including those that are closed to the public.
The interface gives the name and address of each set of steps, directions on how to find them, and photos of what you'll find when you get there.
The City maintains nearly 400 sets of hillside stairways, which were a key transportation shortcut for pedestrians looking to traverse the City's often rugged terrain.
The steps are still heavily used today, though their presence is not without controversy.
In 2006, the Dayton Street Neighborhood Association successfully lobbied for the closure of the Horace Street steps, which connect Horace Street with the intersection of Bank and Linn streets. The residents claimed that the steps caused drug dealers and prostitutes to come down and use Horace Street, which is basically an alley for Dayton Street residents, as a place to conduct criminal activity.
And in March 2007, City Council voted to close the Collins Avenue steps - a major connection for residents and students from Taft Road to O'Bryonville - after Keys Crescent residents complained that the steps brought crime onto their street.
Despite the closures, the City sees some value in retaining pedestrian connectivity. This spring, work will begin to replace the public steps between Holy Cross-Immaculata Church and the Adams Crossing condominiums.
This map is a fantastic tool for people like me who like to do a little urban exploring, and it's helpful in finding the public steps that may be hidden from plain view or that are in unfamiliar neighborhoods.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Google mashup identifies Cincinnati's public steps
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Mount Adams path bids close
Bidding for the Mount Adams Pedestrian Path project has ended.
For the past several weeks, the Purchasing Division of the City's Department of Finance has been accepting sealed bids for the project, which would repair and rebuild the public steps between the Holy Cross-Immaculata Church and the Adams Crossing condominiums.
The City expects to have a winning bidder chosen and to give a Notice to Proceed by March 3, with a timeline of 240 calendar days scheduled for completion.
Construction will occur in three locations:
* Between Adams Crossing and the Columbia Parkway pedestrian overpass, a historic stone arch will be re-installed next to a new public plaza, part of which has been overtaken by weeds. New steps and a new concrete walkway will be built along with a new retaining wall, lighting and railing. Landscaping will be installed in September.
* On the Guido Street Steps, the steps will be replaced and new lighting and railing will be added. Work should start in late March.
* Between Celestial Street and the pedestrian overpass, new landings, lighting and railing should start being built by July.
Unifying wayfinding signage will be installed along the entire route.
No cost estimates are available until the winning bidder has been selected.
Previous reading on BC:
Mount Adams Pedestrian Path set for 2008 (8/28/07)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Mount Adams Pedestrian Path set for 2008
Plan aerial: Click to enlarge
The Mount Adams Pedestrian Path project is expected to break ground in February 2008.
The project's goal is to repair and rebuild the pedestrian connections between Holy Cross-Immaculata Church and Adams Crossing.
The upper portion of the project involves the rehabilitation of all 85 Guido Street steps. These are the infamous steps used by Roman Catholics to "pray the steps" every Good Friday.
The lower portion of the project will restore a stone archway and public plaza next to Adams Place. The historic stone arch, which was moved for construction, was put into storage in 1990. The foundation for the plaza is buried under overgrown weeds.
Sections from Celestial/Hill to the Columbia Parkway pedestrian overpass and from the overpass to the new plaza will also be improved.
In late June, the City voted unanimously to accept one-eighth acre from the Adams Place Condominium homeowners association and AP Parking Company, LLC, putting the entire project area under City control.
The project is expected to be completed by September 2008.
In April 2006, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that costs were estimated at $1.5 million. A more current estimate is not available, as the project has not yet been put out to bid. Bids will be accepted later this fall.
Funding will come from City Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) Steps and DOTE Gateway funds and federal ISTEA funds. DOTE has also applied for federal TCSP grant.
Thank you to Matthew Andrews, DOTE Project Architect, for the aerial and the photo.
The "Good Friday" stone arch: Click to enlarge
WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW
GOOGLE AERIAL MAP
