There has been a great deal of debate regarding the traffic reconfiguration of Rawlin’s Cross in the heart of St. John’s. The roundabout (of sorts) that is undergoing a trial period, was first criticized for not being fully accessible – and rightly so. The City has now resolved to provide a low back curb (ramp) at the termination of the new crosswalk on Monkstown Road.
The “Cross” has been a bit sad in recent years. It seems as though nobody can make a go of it commercially at 134 or 136 Military Road – the past premises of a copy centre, dry cleaners and a sub shop, just to name a few.
But City Council, perhaps without even knowing it, are now sitting on the greatest potential that could have ever befallen Rawlin’s Cross. They have inadvertently created an oasis in the middle of the city. A bridge between downtown and the wonderfully redeveloped Bannerman Park.
Imagine, if you will, the jersey traffic barriers defining this little square being replaced with cast-iron bollards and flower planters. This creates the potential for an outdoor pedestrian mall of a scale and context suitable for St. John’s. Such an idea has always been held out for Water Street (and it was tried) but invariably the notion fell victim to mercantile concerns. Understandable. But for the Cross:
Up comes the pavement. Down go the cobblestones.
A central fountain or public sculpture. Interpretive boards that explain the history of the Cross and the madness that used to be its traffic. Love sick soldiers, horses, trains and automobiles.
A thoughtful landscape design concept with some fixed seating and clever “instigators” for children, who can also take advantage of the green grass island at 130 Military Road (after it is safely fenced in along Rennie’s Mill Road). Three or four large tree plantings with cast iron concentric grilles will be essential to establish the pedestrian only sanctuary atmosphere.
A rock band with bagpipes completes the picture.
134 Military Road would suddenly have all manner of potential clientele immediately in front of the building. It resolves the long-standing issue that Rawlin’s Cross wasn’t a place to be – it was a place that you passed through. Three stories of market and retail suddenly is very plausible. A viable commercial prospect that feeds off a captive streetscape.
And as for 136, this now begs to be a restaurant that fully spills out onto the courtyard that was formerly a street. Patrons can choose to dine outside surrounded by the hustle of the Cross traffic but sheltered in a most elegant, pedestrian centered refuge. Propane heaters create a micro-climate that defies spring and fall. What will be the specialty? French cuisine I hope. It is, after all, such a Parisian notion.
The restaurant would be complimentary to the Hungry Heart in terms of fare and hours. In fact, the “Heart” could serve people outdoors in the pedestrian mall during the summer as well. That would be wonderful (as long as we can protect the servers from being run over by St. John’s drivers).
This is traffic calming at its best.
So there it is. My idea for Rawlin’s Cross. It just needs some grease now from the City fathers (and mothers) and a few entrepreneurial minds.
I simply cannot wait to go there.