Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Before and after: Truxton Circle

This is posted in one of the foyer entrances to a set of offices for DC's Dept. of Transportation. Obviously it's an ironic comment.

A few years ago, DDOT did a great thing and restored Thomas Circle. While not eliminated in favor of traffic as Truxton Circle was, Thomas Circle was cleaved up in favor of providing through lanes for vehicular traffic.

In 2006, Thomas Circle was restored to roughly its original configuration.

And guess what?

Despite the removal of travel lanes at this location, it was not the end of the world for automobility on 14th Street NW.
Thomas Circle 1970 by army.arch.
Thomas Circle, 1970. DDOT photo.

Thomas Circle 1907 by Ronnie R.
A rebuilt Thomas Circle begins to show some signs of life
A rebuilt Thomas Circle begins to show some signs of life

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