Union Street's new markings, including a bicycle lane and diagonal parking, have increased parking space and reduced average vehicle speed.
When the program was announced six years ago, Luigi Vitrone, founder of the Little Italy Neighborhood Association and owner of Pastabilities Restaurant, said, “This program is only going to be as good as the people who are involved in it.” So far, those people have been quite good, says Paul Calistro, executive director of West End Neighborhood House. “We’re bringing neighbors together, we’re bringing organizations together, we’re capitalizing on their strengths,” he says. “None of this works without great people.” Here’s a look at some of what West Side Grows Together has accomplished: Economic development: Using matching funds from the Neighborhood Building Blocks program to help finance façade improvements and buy security cameras has helped the business environment, especially on Lincoln and Union streets, Lester says. The initiative creates synergies throughout the area, with businesses not wanting to fall behind when they see their friendly competitors down the street sprucing up their storefronts. In addition, West Side Grows coordinated the “Better Block” initiative, a project that tested alternate configurations for parking and sidewalks along Union Street. After tests on a couple of blocks, the result was a redesign that resulted in back-in diagonal parking on much of the east side of the street, a marked bicycle lane in front of the diagonal parking, and the elimination of one of the street’s three lanes for through traffic. The changes have increased parking spaces by about 15 percent and average vehicle speed has dropped by about 4 miles per hour. “With diagonal parking, more spaces are available. All in all, it’s had a very positive impact,” Constantinou says. “With the bike lanes, people can walk on the sidewalks again,” says 13-year-old Brenden Cephas, a volunteer who passed out flyers in the neighborhood to promote the Better Block demonstrations and helped with set-up when the events were held. “Now I see more people walking on Union Street, going to Acme or Walgreen’s and coming back with their groceries,” Roddy says. Next up in economic development, Lester says, will be a focus on Fourth Street, a key connector to downtown Wilmington whose storefronts reflect the Latino, Caribbean, African-American, Chinese and Italian heritages of Hilltop and Little Italy residents. ►
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MARCH 2019 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
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