As a rail transit guy, I'm likewise appalled at the huge suburban style parking lot. As a citizen or would-be developer I understand the plan, after all, those huge windows will look out on a magnificent view of the downtown skyline. If you consider the Riverwalk as a street for bikes and pedestrians and the focus being fitness, no small wonder that they are turning their back on Riverside. Perhaps the actual floor plan calls for a pass through hall from Riverside to Riverwalk which allows the building to be double sided. I do like the Captains idea, an RFP for the balance of the property could be a game changer.
I also wonder where JTA is on this? Plans for a Skyway across Riverside, and being located on a heavy transit corridor, where is the cross walk? Signaled cross walk? Pedestrian bridge? Bus turnout? Granted that JTA is about as proactive as the Whig Party, but they SHOULD be involved, and SHOULD have a set of requirements designed by the transit side administered at the municipal level.
It would be tragic indeed to spend a year getting into great physical shape at the YMCA, only to be run over by a bus in front of the facility.
