I was walking westbound on Spring Street this morning, approaching Sweet Stuff, when I saw three Padgett Inc. trucks in a row turn onto Spring from 4th.
Each of the trucks was as long as Spring Street is wide, meaning that to navigate the turn, the cabs very nearly were onto the sidewalk on the south side of the street.
Rather obviously, a two-way street would complicate this maneuver. It wouldn’t make it impossible, just more difficult.
Watching this prompts a few observations. They may or may not be related.
I’ve no beef with Padgett, even when all the GOP signs are merrily festooned on its expansive fence during election season. Funny, but one time there were Irv Stumler placards there, and he was a Democrat.
Yes, it’s a free enterprise kind of country (except when it isn’t, right Kerry Stemler?), and we’ve also had many discussions in the past about which sort of businesses are appropriate in a downtown setting — more specifically, in a revitalizing downtown setting.
When and if the city gets serious about its street grid, which increasingly looks to be long AFTER it’s already too late, what clout will a company like Padgett bring to the table?
Will we be compelled to adapt a pedestrian-friendly downtown to the needs of businesses like Padgett?
I don’t know the answers. But questions are good.
