Time to think big in Dublin

Posted on July 10, 2007 by wyliemac

My Vision for a Dublin Cap

Now that the Shoppes at River Ridge is near completion and City Council is considering a Bridge & High St. redevelopment project, it’s time to think big and connect Old Dublin with the other side of the Scioto River. What I propose is a shopping cap and walkway over the river that connects Old Dublin to the Shoppes at River Ridge. AND, we demolish and redevelop that blight of a strip mall on the Northeast corner of the 33 and the 161 (staying true to the name of this website : )).

Now that would be one huge outdoor shopping district. And, I dare to say, a tourist destination for shoppers. Which, even with Tuttle Mall, Dublin is not. Dublin is more of an event place. Like, the Memorial Tournament. The Dublin Irish Festival. The St. Patrick’s Day activities. Etc. If we Dubliners want to experience shopping. We go to Easton. Or Polaris. But Tuttle is ho hum. And while Old Dublin is quaint. It’s just a fun walk. But not a destination. Yet.

I’m interested in hearing what you think.

UPDATE: See the Columbus Underground discussion.

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  • Don
    I have submitted this very idea a couple of times to Dublin. A cap doesn't have to hide what's underneath if designed properly. Have you ever seen the Pulteney Bridge in Bath, England? Here's a picture of it: " target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pulteney_Bridge... Also bridges in Venice can be very beautiful, like this picture of the Rialto: " target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venezia_-_Ponte... I think the cap over 670 is really beautiful, on one side -- in Dublin you'd just need to make sure you didn't block the view of the river and make it a two-sided building. I think you are really on to something here. Make the old plaza on the NE corner of 161-Riverside a destination (with ample parking) then have some sort of riverwalk over the bridge to Olde Dublin. I have many times thought that the one distinguishing feature of Dublin is the Scioto River, and except for the Dam Jam in Shawnee Hills we completely ignore it! And there is some beautiful parkland under the bridge which no one ever uses! If they still do them, Goody-Clancy should ask Dick Termeer or Herb Jones to give them a tour!
  • While the small space known as "Old Dublin" looks quiant, I don't know if a new development including a cap over the river gorge and new shopping centers would really accent that older style. I'm assuming there would still be a need for a large parking lot since everyone would be driving to this shopping destination (not really mixed use), and pedestrian traffic probably wouldn't work well along 161/33.

    Besides, why would you want to cap over and block out the nice scenic view of the river? I can understand highway caps, because that's a noisy eyesore, but I'd hate to see caps on the river bridges downtown. It would be concealing nature with commerce.

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  • Walker Evans
    While the small space known as "Old Dublin" looks quiant, I don't know if a new development including a cap over the river gorge and new shopping centers would really accent that older style. I'm assuming there would still be a need for a large parking lot since everyone would be driving to this shopping destination (not really mixed use), and pedestrian traffic probably wouldn't work well along 161/33.


    Besides, why would you want to cap over and block out the nice scenic view of the river? I can understand highway caps, because that's a noisy eyesore, but I'd hate to see caps on the river bridges downtown. It would be concealing nature with commerce.



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