Community Voices: Roswell looking to reinvent alleyways

Upcoming meetings: 6 p.m. Aug. 13, City Hall, Council Chambers; 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at City Hall, Room 220; 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25, City Hall, Room 220; 7 p.m. Sept. 10, City Hall, Council Chambers.

Information: City Planner Courtney Lankford at clankford@roswellgov.com

The idea of an “alley” often conjures up inhospitable images of the seamy and shadowy, dank and dimly lit, crime ridden and drug dealing, boarded up and garbage strewn. The narrow passageways where delivery and trash trucks venture, where park at your own risk takes on new meaning, a place where decent people fear to tread. That’s Hollywood’s version.

Certainly, when I was growing up, my family encouraged me to stick to the more scenic and safe sidewalks of our neighborhood streets, and to avoid the short-cuts alleys provided. But daylight, familiarity and peer-pressure drove us to take a walk on the underside when distance or time was of the essence.

Now, the city of Roswell is looking to join the growing national trend to reinvent these alleyways and make them ecologically and user-friendly pathways that actually improve the infrastructure and provide inviting and peaceful havens when cultural events and street fair gatherings generate additional pedestrian traffic and congestion.

Alive After Five is one such ongoing community attraction, taking place 5 to 9 p.m. the third Thursday of every month from April through October. But the Canton Street corridor in historic Roswell is a popular destination even in the absence of scheduled cultural events.

And it is for that reason that Roswell is reimagining several of the alleys and side streets that connect to Canton Street, as part of the “walkable village” concept that preserves the historic character of the area, while enhancing walkability, connectivity and infrastructure demands.

Improvements consistent among the many concepts presented by Pond & Co., the consultants hired to draft plans, include wider sidewalks, improved energy efficient lighting, buried utility lines, benches and seating, aesthetically pleasing permeable pavers to help mitigate storm water runoff, and fully enclosed brick consolidated waste management buildings, instead of open and exposed dumpsters.

If you’re wondering what these waste management buildings look like, look no further than Acworth. In addition to trash facilities cleverly disguised as small buildings, complete with window bars that mimic mullions, Acworth’s alleys and delivery areas have also cleaned up a bit with consistent gate systems that are visually pleasing and pedestrian friendly.

There have already been several public planning sessions held since last month, and although sparsely attended, pulses were taken, ideas contributed and conceptual plans mapped out and presented. It’s not too late to participate, as more sessions for discussion and planning remain throughout August, with the adoption of a Master Plan slated for September.

The perceived parking problem is an issue beyond the scope of this project, although some plans include ideas to enhance current public parking. And, as always, Mayor Wood invites any and all scathingly brilliant ideas.