Revitalizing and Slowing Down

Local officials and local business leaders will discuss updated plans to revitalize Citadel Mall and the Sam Rittenberg commercial corridor next Wednesday, May 28, on the top floor of the Holiday Inn Riverview from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hosted by WAJIBA – the West Ashley/James Island Business Association, the discussion will include lunch and a presentation by Tim Keane, the city’s director of planning.
Keane was on hand at the last revitalization meeting, which took place in the middle of the day a few months ago at 75 Calhoun, and tried to pull together the strands of thought pushing the process.
City Councilman Aubry Alexander said he expects a further update on the last meeting, which mostly just defined the situation and the stiff competition both the mall and the corridor are facing.
Alexander lamented that the luncheon discussion came with a $20 entry fee. Alexander and several other councilmen representing pieces of West Ashley want to make the next such meeting free and open to the public sometime in late June.
The “town hall” meeting could also include efforts to create a safer walking path to the new Northbridge Park. Scheduled to be opened and dedicated the day before the WAJIBA meeting, the park’s sidewalk is drawing concern from walkers who feel there is a need for some sort of barrier between them and cars zooming by.
Alexander said there should be some discussion regarding lowering the speed limit along the stretch leading up to Northbridge itself.