Quote:
|
Is it mostly just for recreation or actual commutes? ... I think even on a significantly narrower river they still wouldn't clutter up a river too much.
|
Recreation and think again. See the link provided.
You sort of have to have seen the area to understand what's happening here. The riverwalk concept has worked from State St. eastward to Lake Shore Drive. All that area (both sides) was developed without the need to fill any substantial portion of the Chicago River.
But, in the section where the linked-above new sections of the riverwalk will be built, there is no private ownership of the property adjoining the river and, for almost a century, a major 2-level street has existed along the south boundary. (Private ownership with no intervening streets extends all along the north boundary.) That north side has been developed without the need for filling in the river. The south (publicly owned) shore is now going to be developed with fill. The privately owned undeveloped areas to the south and west (River Point) where the river splits are also requesting to fill (rather than dedicate) land for the riverwalk.
The area adjacent to the 3 planned fills is shown in this short video of the traffic when the sailboats are sailing up the river going to and from their docks in the lake (it's the heaviest traffic of the year; just remove the sailboats; in the past 3 years river traffic for watertaxis and boat tours has only increased). Skip the ads and watch (video shot from along the banks of the "to be filled" for 50' out area known as the Boardwalk):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWxBS_QsFow
Prev
Linear Mode
