Ear to the Ground
It seems that the materials for the ramp at Promenade Hill (dubbed "the ramp of least resistance") have been ordered, and all is in readiness to begin construction, but we have no better idea today of what the ramp will look like at the entrance to Hudson's most historic park than we did two years ago when this solution for providing universal access to Promenade Hill was first proposed. The engineering drawing shown below, which Gossips has published many times before, is all there is.
Promenade Hill and the area leading up to it are included in a National Register historic district and a locally designated historic district. It will be interesting to see if the Historic Preservation Commission has anything to say about the ramp and its design.
COPYRIGHT 2016 CAROLE OSTERINK
Whether it's a walking ramp or a full-blown bridge, in a community full of designers, artists, and historically-minded residents it's important - nay it's crucial - to have our infrastructure designed by engineers, or by DPW staff.
ReplyDeleteSame goes for fences, signage, tree planting decisions, or whatever else puts a visual stamp on the city.
This was always the way, and must continue.
LOL. I quite enjoyed the sarcasm which dripped from nearly every word in the above post. :)
ReplyDeleteWith all respect (and no intended sarcasm whatever) to both the commentators and historic preservation, this is not a "walking ramp". Its purpose is to provide safe and usable access to a public place to those who cannot walk; and the fact of the matter is that the construction or even the conception of such access has no historical precedent in the 18th and 19th century culture which developed Hudson and the rest of the world. So let's not get too hung up on attempting some prettification to make it fit with our 21st century notions of historic correctness.
ReplyDeleteAs in so many things in life, it's a balancing test between being cost effective, and aesthetics. If some talented local designer could have made it more attractive, while keeping the installation within budget, then it's a win-win. In any event, isn't what's being installed intended to be temporary rather than permanent - a sort term fix?
ReplyDeleteMy comment above was mainly meant to be kudos to the poster's prose prowess. I thought it extremely well done. :)
I spoke to the Mayor about this yesterday, and she's not aware of any equipment being ordered.
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