PHALEN BOULEVARD OPENING 12/6/03 The grand opening of the western segment of Phalen Boulevard [not the first as is frequently ballyhooed, since the section between Johnson and Maryland is already in use] went well. Perhaps the temperature was a factor, but the speeches from the politicians were appropriate and appropriately brief, the drawing for the new car went well with an apparently local person wining the major prize. The Carpenters' Union and Buon Giorno Express provided food [and the Carpenters' Union even provided rest rooms which are a lot nicer than portable jobs in the cold]. Even Curt Milburn did not speak for too long. It went well. What we might suggest for the ceremonies at the opening of the next segment would be a little more of the same. But if the weather is better, it might be nice to draw for prizes a few more times. [There do not need to be more prizes, but more drawings would create more winners and give more chance to hype the donors who contributed them.] And it might be nice if there were a chance for the non-politicans [e.g, representatives of District Councils, CDC's, and Business Associations involved] who have been pushing this thing for so long to have a chance to speak and/or cut a ribbon or something. But on the whole the show went well. The bicycle/pedestrian trail needs work yet and one can tell that there is still some fine-tuning work to be done, But THE ROAD IS OPEN [at least to Payne]. Let the word go forth! CSP |
| From Midway Barb 12/10/03: You really have more than that to connect up. Until you get Pierce Butler connected up to Pennsylvania, those of us from across town will still not find Phalen Blvd very helpful. But think of what a wonderful road we could have from University and Cleveland to Phalen Village if we could just hook it all up. And that is almost all industrial property alongside -- think of the jobs! We agree. We also are amazed at the possibilities of the Dale Street Shops area. We need to get started on the PB extension by there so that we will be ready for the 35E realignment [now scheduled for 2009, but who knows when really] which will give us a full-service interchange at Cayuga will give both sides full freeway access from all directions. CSP |