Philadelphia's Champs Elysee? (Washington, Windsor: codes, mall, moving)

[FindingZen]

I've enjoyed reading this discussion.

FWIW, I too see the comparisons between the Champs-Elysees and the Ben Franklin Parkway. Rather than more restaurants, however, I'd like to see "pop-up" cafes or food trucks that provide seating (or maybe the city installs the seats) to provide street-level activity. I've always been proud of the variety of museums to be found on this stretch but as picturesque as the Parkway is, for pedestrians/visitors it seems to be mostly a large chasm to be crossed to get to the museums, work etc.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I've enjoyed reading this discussion.

FWIW, I too see the comparisons between the Champs-Elysees and the Ben Franklin Parkway. Rather than more restaurants, however, I'd like to see "pop-up" cafes or food trucks that provide seating (or maybe the city installs the seats) to provide street-level activity. I've always been proud of the variety of museums to be found on this stretch but as picturesque as the Parkway is, for pedestrians/visitors it seems to be mostly a large chasm to be crossed to get to the museums, work etc.

What is a "pop up" shop? I've Googled it and looked it up on Wikipedia, but I still can't picture what it would look like. Aren't they in permanent structures?

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

This stretch of the Champs Elysee west of the place de La Concorde (Logan Circle) looks a lot like the parkway. It isn’t until you get even further west near the Arc de Triomphe that you will find that dense street wall.

You're right. The Champs is not a wall of buildings from one end to the other; it has a lot of greenspace. I think the Parkway could be developed in a similar fashion, which would allow us to preserve much of our greenspace.

champs elysees paris - Google Maps

benjamin franklin parkway - Google Maps

[couldntthinkofaclevername]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I've enjoyed reading this discussion.

FWIW, I too see the comparisons between the Champs-Elysees and the Ben Franklin Parkway. Rather than more restaurants, however, I'd like to see "pop-up" cafes or food trucks that provide seating (or maybe the city installs the seats) to provide street-level activity. I've always been proud of the variety of museums to be found on this stretch but as picturesque as the Parkway is, for pedestrians/visitors it seems to be mostly a large chasm to be crossed to get to the museums, work etc.

Exactly what I suggested, as well as extending the sidewalk on the grassy ends of the Parkway and making the two remaining lanes (one on each side) bicycle only. That way you can have the "pop-up" places lining both sides of the Parkway towards the Art Museum as well as a much safer way to walk the Parkway at the same time.

And to BajanYankee: "pop-up" means a non-permanent establishment that is able to be disassembled or moved.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

Interesting articles on this very topic.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway: Philadelphia’s French Connection — Museum Without Walls

Brian Goes to Town: Avenue des Champs-Elysées vs. Benjamin Franklin Parkway, part 1

Brian Goes to Town: Avenue des Champs-Elysées vs. Benjamin Franklin Parkway, part 2.

Editorial: Great architects have been selected to design the Barnes museum. Will it matter? | Young Philly Politics

After reading Brian Hsu's two essays comparing the Parkway and the Champs-Élysees, I think he gets the issue exactly right, although he gets a few bits of historical trivia off (Fairmount Park predates the Parkway by about 75 years or so).

The problem isn't the Parkway, it's what's around it.

The neighborhoods surrounding the Parkway would have to be far more densely developed than they are now in order for the "park" section of the Parkway to have the feel of the similar stretch in Paris.

Philadelphia, put simply, is nowhere near as dense as Paris. The figures tell the story:

Philadelphia: ~1.5 million people in 135 square miles
Paris: ~2.2 million people in 40 square miles

Unless we allow much more density than I think most Americans would accept, our grand boulevard will ALWAYS feel "lacking" compared to Paris', and the sorts of activities it can support will not be as intense as those in Paris.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

After reading Brian Hsu's two essays comparing the Parkway and the Champs-Élysees, I think he gets the issue exactly right, although he gets a few bits of historical trivia off (Fairmount Park predates the Parkway by about 75 years or so).

The problem isn't the Parkway, it's what's around it.

The neighborhoods surrounding the Parkway would have to be far more densely developed than they are now in order for the "park" section of the Parkway to have the feel of the similar stretch in Paris.

Philadelphia, put simply, is nowhere near as dense as Paris. The figures tell the story:

Philadelphia: ~1.5 million people in 135 square miles
Paris: ~2.2 million people in 40 square miles

Unless we allow much more density than I think most Americans would accept, our grand boulevard will ALWAYS feel "lacking" compared to Paris', and the sorts of activities it can support will not be as intense as those in Paris.

Why the Parkway will never “live up to its potential” | Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Unless we allow much more density than I think most Americans would accept, our grand boulevard will ALWAYS feel "lacking" compared to Paris', and the sorts of activities it can support will not be as intense as those in Paris.

It doesn't have to be as intense as Paris. It just needs to be better than it currently is. And to do that, you've got to start developing along the Parkway.

Paris wasn't built in a day. It has about a 1,500 year head start on Philadelphia. I think the area around the Parkway can be filled in within the century.

[mancat100]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

It doesn't have to be as intense as Paris. It just needs to be better than it currently is. And to do that, you've got to start developing along the Parkway.

Paris wasn't built in a day. It has about a 1,500 year head start on Philadelphia. I think the area around the Parkway can be filled in within the century.

We'll all be dead!!!!!!

[soug]

Originally Posted by mancat100

We'll all be dead!!!!!!

You never know.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by mancat100

We'll all be dead!!!!!!

That's the way cities are built. Your generation busts their butt for the next generation. In 1,000 years somebody will have something they can fully enjoy. Then, not understanding the work that went into it, will destroy it within a couple more generations and the cycle repeats.