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Tryon unveils Depot Plaza proposal
Published 5:23pm Tuesday, June 19, 2012Attendees raise parking, property boundary issues
Business and property owners in the Depot Street area of Tryon got a first look at the town’s proposed Depot Plaza master plan on Monday, June 18.
The plan includes a plaza between the renovated Tryon Depot (now occupied by Millard & Company) and the dental office being constructed nearby for Dr. Hooker. The area would also be reconfigured to add parking spaces, and a water feature would connect the Depot Plaza with Trade Street, running beside the Rotary Clock Tower.
The project is part of a 10-year vision for developing downtown Tryon, said Dean Trakas of Brady/Trakas, the architects for the project. The primary goals for the depot area, he said, were to develop a public space for events and to improve parking in the area. The design is tied into the overall Streetscape plan for downtown, with the aim of visually connecting the Trade Street area with the depot area and Pacolet Street, Trakas said.
Several of those attending the meeting said they were concerned about parking in the area. In addition to customers and employees of the businesses, attendees said, parking is needed for the approximately 55 people who attend Bingo on Friday nights at the American Legion.
“We are very concerned about parking,” Robin Michaels said. “We need a minimum of 22 spots for owners and one staff member for each business in the area.”
Trakas said the proposed plan increases the number of parking spaces in the area from 29 to 47.
“We tried to cram in the most parking spaces possible,” Trakas said, “while keeping all but one of the existing trees.”
ANYONE WHO TAKES TIME TO LOOK AT THE REALITY OF THIS PROPOSAL REALIZES THE TOWN HAS TOTALLY IGNORED THE FACT OF LIFE THE RAILROAD WILL RETURN TO FULL SERVICE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE FACT OF LIFE IS IMPROVMENTS TO THE PORT OF CHARLESTON, PLANS TO SHIP COAL FROM CHARLESTON, AND THE FACT OF LIFE NORFOLK SOUTHERN OWN THE ONE HUNDRED FOOT WIDE RAIL CORRIDOR THROUGH THE SITE OF PROPOSED IMPROVMENTS MAKES THE PROPOSAL AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. REPEATEDLY NORFOLK SOUTHERN HAS TOLD THE TOWN AND ALL INVOLVED OF THEIR INTENT OT RESUME SERVICE AND NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. OUR RAILROAD RETURN TO SERVICE MEANS FAR, FAR MORE TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAN THIS PARK PLAN WILL EVER MEAN.