Pleasant Street

Connected Elements of the Vision:

• Location - The Vision Study area location has tremendous inherent strength to connect the neighborhood.  It sits between Washington Park and the historic Findlay Market, with Pleasant Street creating a walkable axis between the two.  Its pedestrian friendly grid of small streets and alleys creates a livable, urban fabric and sense of place that many neighborhoods are trying to emulate.  It is within walking distance of many restaurants, Findlay Market, churches, neighborhood base organizations, and many of the region's best cultural institutions as well as downtown and the river.

• Connected by Public Transportation - There are numerous bus stops and bus routes within the neighborhood and within the study area.  The new streetcar route also crosses through the area along Elm and Race.  These public transportation options create connection without use of a car.  Access to and use of public transportation is essential to the diversity and sustainability of the neighborhood.

• Complete Street at Liberty Street - The Vision Study shows the plan created by the Brewery District for Liberty Street.  The term "complete street" has been used to mean a more complete approach to street design that includes room for cars, pedestrians, bicycles, and public transportation.  The design for Liberty Street is in keeping with the new Complete Streets guidelines developed by the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation which allow streets to be redesigned to focus on shared use with bicycles and public transportation as well as better conditions for pedestrians.  Liberty Street is an excellent location to employ the complete streets approach because it was widened in the 1970's and was designed strictly as an efficient traffic artery across town, but now functions as a detriment to the mixed-use and pedestrian needs of an urban neighborhood.  The desire for a new approach to Liberty Street was the most frequently listed item in the Design Charette input sessions.