A Secret Sidewalk: The Neighborhood Connector
By Taylan Tekeli, Research & Design Assistant + Eric Hoke, Design Director
2 min read - This project idea shows the opportunity to improve a forgotten piece of sidewalk that could make significant links between neighborhoods.
Unveiling existing infrastructure
This project seeks to explore enhancing a path under the highway that connects the Nations Neighborhood to Sylvan Park. This connection could add new walkability options to adjacent neighborhoods to walkways that have been historically disconnected by the construction of the interstate.
This view above is a perspective looking South from The Nations toward the potential secret sidewalk connection
We have heard from community members in the Nations Neighborhood and surrounding area that there is a desire to connect Deleware Ave to Alabama Ave using an overgrown pathway that once connected these two streets under the interstate. This reestablished route could strengthen walkable connections between the Nations / Clifton / Sylvan Park Neighborhoods and serve as an asset to the neighbors and businesses here. Our proposal below shows where we hope to use tactical urbanism strategies that involve community participation and placemaking throughout the site.
Vision
Bird’s Eye View of the Neighborhoods
Solutions such as cleaning up the area regularly, maintaining trees, and having wayfinding signage or a gateway piece would help the underpass to be used by the neighbors trying to access Charlotte Pike.
View looking north from Alabama Avenue
View looking south from Delaware Avenue
Context
The blue dotted line represents the current walking path from Charlotte to Fat Bottom Brewery and the black line represents a new path created by the Secret Sidewalk Project.
This connection could reduce walking distances to areas of interest to people moving back and forth from a vibrant commercial district of charlotte pike to a long-time Nashville Brewery in the Nations' Neighborhood.
Existing Conditions April 2022
Want to help out with this project?Interested in identifying your local neighborhood connectors and improving the built enviornment in your area? Submit a TURBO Work Order.