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Once the previous three phases are in place and positive impact of the interventions are evident, this should be a relatively easy task as the land is already available and the street that requires rerouting is a relatively minor one. œ Fustat Gardens and the park-like median near the Al-Mahmoud Mosque (FIgure 168) present large open space opportunities. Smaller but strategically located open spaces around Suleiman Pasha Mosque and at the north end of Athur El Nabi also present opportunities adjacent to the pedestrian overpass, which provides access to Coptic Cairo over the metro line. œ
FIGURE 168.
Al-Mahmoud Mosque
FIGURE 169. Old Cairo’s existing promenade (seen from Manasterly Bridge) lies next to concrete retaining walls a few meters above the river
The traffic island near Al-Mahmoud Mosque at the south edge of the study site could be attached to the mosque by rerouting the street. The street separating Coptic Cairo from Fustat Garden could also be rerouted behind the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque. œ In conjunction with bus station relocation, the rerouting could free up substantial open space, which can function as a connecting plaza and public square between Coptic Cairo and the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque, both of which are significant tourist attractions and heritage sites.
V
V
Fifth Phase: Improve Connections Across the Manasterly Bridge œ
Improve connections from Coptic Cairo to Roda Island near the Manasterly Pedestrian Bridge, and the proposed trails for Roda Island (Figure 169)
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Coptic Cairo (Figure 170) and the Nilometer constitute two major tourist attractions. Establishing additional pedestrian links could potentially assist with economic development of the informal settlement in between.
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The timing of this intervention coincides with the completion of the trail network along the Nile, the revitalization of the Nilometer and Manasterly Palace area, and the land occupied by the wastewater treatment plant at the southern tip of Roda Island.
Factors that could threaten proposal implementation œ Given the informal nature of much of this area and the age of the prop-
erties involved in revitalization, this effort could run into ownership and tenure issues. œ Given
development trends north of the site (in busy CBD), this area could be susceptible to indiscriminate development as land values rise.
œ Institutional FIGURE 170.
88
Coptic Cairo’s Hanging Church
arrangements might be needed to ensure that building controls and guidelines prescribed by revitalization plans are followed.