In spite of the recent tragic events in the Oregon District, East Fifth Street remains one of Dayton’s great destinations. I often say that the Oregon District, specifically Fifth Street, is Dayton’s one true “big city” neighborhood.
The business and entertainment district is a vibrant street where you will see all walks of life stroll by, from city dwellers passing through to suburban patrons enjoying a night out on the town. It’s Dayton’s most democratic (small d) street, a street you can walk a thousand times and always have a new experience.
In fact, in 2015 the American Planning Association (APA) designated Fifth Street as one of America’s Great Streets. And while the APA recognized the street as a great place because it’s a “multi-modal corridor with bike share stations, bus service, pedestrian-focused design, and an array of locally owned businesses among the street’s restored historic buildings,” I think its already dynamic sense of place can be enhanced even further.
How can our beloved Fifth Street become even better, you ask? By removing auto traffic and becoming a full-time pedestrian mall.
While the Oregon District will always be Dayton’s premier entertainment destination, a conversion to a pedestrian mall would only enhance the district’s possibilities. Imagine a district designated solely for people, without any conflict with auto traffic. Imagine where the central brick street becomes the new 25’ wide pedestrian zone, plenty of room for extra seating, leisurely movement, outdoor performers, and community gathering.
Now imagine the existing sidewalks becoming extensions of the shops and restaurants, allowing more space for café style seating, people watching, and outdoor displays. And if you’re still not sold, imagine a street where an outdoor open-alcohol district is now realistic, safe, and free for pedestrians to stroll around freely without worry from automobile conflicts.
Slideshow of Fifth Street closed to cars for special events (click to advance)
Detractors of the idea may say removing auto traffic will hurt access to existing businesses, cause excess spill-over traffic in the surrounding areas, create headaches for shipping and drop-offs, and make it even harder to find public parking.
Ali Matta, owner of Derailed Hair Salon, while supportive of the idea of a car-free Fifth Street, thinks many of her patrons coming from suburban areas will be discouraged to drive in due to fears of finding a place to park. While many Americans are generally accustomed to free parking directly in front of their destinations, only a total of less than 20 on-street parking spaces along Fifth Street would be lost by closing the street off to cars. Access to the district’s existing periphery parking lots would still be easily accessible from existing access points.
The Oregon District Business Association did not respond to a request for comment.
The idea of a pedestrian mall is neither new nor radical. Many cities throughout the country have converted their main pedestrian corridor into car-free zones, even right in the heart of their downtowns. Downtown Denver’s 16th Street Mall, though closed to auto traffic, does allow free shuttle service through the corridor.
I had a chance to visit Boulder, Colorado’s Pearl Street Mall recently and was inspired by the possibilities for Fifth Street. Beginning in the 1970s, Boulder closed off four entire blocks in the heart of their downtown to auto traffic, installing mid-block permanent landscaping planters, public seating, and art installations. The result has been an utter success and has created a unique sense of place and vibrancy for tourists and residents alike.
Slideshow of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall (click to advance)
While a thorough traffic and circulation study would still need to be done for a full-time pedestrian mall conversion, the City of Dayton does shut off Fifth Street on occasion for special events or district block parties with much success and little traffic interruption.
Perhaps the City should entertain the idea for street closure more frequently for non-events once a month, or just on weekends. A compromise could also be possible with not fully closing off the entire quarter mile strip and allowing the stretch from Jackson Street to Wayne Avenue to remain open for circulation.
The maps below show two ways that Fifth Street could be realized as a pedestrian mall and the corresponding traffic circulation.
While pedestrian malls first gained traction in the 60s and 70s, perhaps it is time to revisit the idea for Dayton. Especially since cities across the country are implementing Vision Zero strategies to eliminate all traffic fatalities and increase safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for their communities.
So what do you think about this idea for Fifth Street in the Oregon District? Let’s start a community conversation.
You can follow Jon on twitter @jonwhite17
Weekend evenings and special events yes!!! Permanently close 5th st to cars please no!!!
Weekdays and winter months would take a giant loss to revenue if customers had to walk to get to shops and restaurants.
Bourbon St is open to traffic during the day and closed in evenings.
Last time I was there. I would support following their process!
Do it!!!! This is the best possible thing to incentivize people to spend more time and money in the OD. We need to stop catering to auto traffic and start accommodating people! Cars cost money to store while not in use, as they should, Crashes and near misses happen all the time when people turn right on red at busy crosswalks or illegally turn left onto Wayne from Fifth. Traffic jams up during rush hours; making it a harsh environment to get anywhere for a happy hour. People-first places should be priority for the business district. People walking and bicycling through the district is activating the space, there has to be a solution. If you want people who spend money, build for people-scaled access, amenities, and accommodation but if you want clogged neighborhoods, traffic jams, and cramped sidewalks just keep doing what you’re doing Dayton. We need to start thinking outside of our car – it’s a lonely place physically and metaphorically.
At least during the evening! It was so nice to wander around during Gem City Shine.
I agree
It wasn’t a popular idea when I was in the planning department a decade ago, maybe sentiment has changed, The City does seem to be a little more open to temporary closures – before they were very worried about the safety of it, and insisted on heavy police presence at either end. Would retractable bollards go over these days, if they are made highly visible? It seems to me that closure is only desirable on Friday/Saturday night and perhaps a weekend daytime event here and there. Retractable bollards or other removable barricade seems like a good compromise.
The narrowness of 5th, and the bricks, keep traffic slow and leisurely. And we downtown residents are used to 5th being closed off for big events, which is fine. Pedestrian malls created by permanantly closing historic streets are a dead idea from the 1960s in my opinion. For every example of a town where they survived, I could probably give ten examples where they were a dismal failure as soon as they were done. Just in this area, Richmond, Indiana, Middletown, Ohio, and City Center in Columbus are three examples. Also, the proximity of the railroad and US 35 and the fact that residential streets border half of 5th mean there is no easy rerouting of any traffic that would be removed. Shutting off 5th during normal off-peak weekday hours (about 80 percent of the week) would turn it into a Ghost Town. I know, because that is my favorite time to go there, and I enjoy cruising down the street in my car as much as I enjoy walking once I park and stroll the sidewalk. I love just walking or biking to 5th, and not using my car at all. If there were no cars going past at 10 miles per hour, and no convertibles and motorcycles and buses passing by and parking, it would seem like a wide, lonely canyon. Let’s stay focused on continuing to get rid of one way streets, adding downtown bike lanes, and widening sidewalks throughout the rest of downtown. 5th street in Oregon already has the right balance. Don’t kill it in pursuit of an idea that never made sense when it was popular 55 years ago, and surely makes no sense at all now.
And another thing…
Don’t we already have enough car-free strolling places downtown?
1. Riverscape 2. Courthouse Square 3. Sinclair Campus 4. Levitt Pavilion and Ed Hall Park 5. Cooper Park and the Library 6. The plaza at the ball park 7. Patterson Boulevard between Monument and First. 8. Second Street Market 9. All of our car-free bike trails
And these are just the largest places. I can think of at least five or six others too small to list.
Why turn unique, historic 5th Street into a lame imitation of what we already have in spades nearby?
Evening yes would be a great idea but, permanently NO, just would cause a congestion during day time travel for work purposes.
Yes! Try it out more consistently before the potential of making it a walking district! Plenty of amazing examples in Europe along with in the Midwest(Chicago, Indy,etc) love the idea of cafe style seating in front of businesses.
Yes. An Oregon District pedestrian mall is long overdue. Maybe weekends only, but all those things Em said….wider walkways, friendlier spaces, better access to businesses, etc., make the setup a no-brainer. In addition, a pedestrian only street would make things safer (Ever drive through O.D. on Friday night after 10? A sharp eye and quick reflexes help you avoid the occasional pedestrian who suddenly needs to cross RIGHT NOW.)
Look how popular those closed streets are around Riverscape during festivals.
I think it’s a great idea; although, I recognize the importance of doing a study to determine how it would affect traffic flow, parking, and revenue of Oregon District businesses. I think traffic could probably be rerouted to fourth Street. I’ve seen this same type of project along State Street in Madison Wisconsin. They do allow buses and cabs though. I believe it’s an eight block stretch. Also, there’s a section of fourth Street in Cleveland which is similar although I don’t remember if it allows buses and cabs.
I went to Louisville every year as a teacher grading Advanced Placement essays. I was impressed by the Fourth Street Live section. It was a pedestrian mall of night spots and businesses. It was crowded every night. The only problem I see is parking. The transportation center could be expanded or RTA could put a hub nearby. Short of that close it evenings. With the proximity to Leavit, it’s a natural connection.