[Vision2020] Third Street Extension

[Pat Kraut]

Tom: The traffic on Third to Blaine is growing all the time. It has to do
with all those houses across Mt View and the apartments on Grant etc. It is
harder to get out onto Sixth off Hayes because of the heavy traffic as it is
one of the only streets that goes all the way to Mt View. Will there be
changes if they extend Third, Of Course. But, change happens and older
buildings get changed it is the way life goes. I am not opposed to the
extension of Third.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Ivie" <the_ivies3 at yahoo.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 8:39 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Third Street Extension


Third Street, from Washington to Hayes Street, is an
effective neighborhood collector in its present
configuration. It takes largely neighborhood
traffic and some through traffic from downtown Moscow
east to Hayes Street where through traffic makes a
choice to go north or south. Some local traffic
continues eastward across Hayes but relatively little
through traffic chooses the two-block, narrow,
tree-lined street to Blaine and beyond.

Absence of sidewalks on portions of Third street from
Hayes to Blaine, absence of tree lawns or planter
strips between sidewalk and street, the narrowness of
it, and the minimal setback of adjacent homes and
apartments
make this a slow connection for anything but local
traffic.

One of Moscow's historic landmark residential
structures, surrounded by tall, old evergreens, the
Mason Cornwall home, is on the southeast
corner of Third and Hayes. Its siting on that lot is
greatly enhanced by the tall evergreens on the lot,
particularly on its northern edge, adjacent to
the sidewalk and street. Any designation of Third
Street as an arterial (however inappropriate, given
the arterial designation of Sixth and D Streets within
a few blocks) would require street widening and
redesign of this narrow, two block segment. The effect
on the historic structure would be considerable.
The landscaping would be altered and portions of the
lawn taken for street and sidewalk construction,
destroying the setback that has given the
home its historic setting and proportion in the
neighborhood.

Community design depends on such elements as building
placement relative to other aspects of the
neighborhood such as  streets, sidewalks, other homes,
etc. When the vacation of 80 foot rights of way
throughout the older
parts of Moscow was considered several years ago, the
Historic Preservation Commission successfully opposed
this move and requested notification
from the Community Development Department of proposals
that might impact the historic character of Moscow,
from vacation requests to variances, conditional use
requests, zoning, etc. Apparently, street design has
not been included in this request for comment, despite
its major impact on the character and siting of
historic properties. Perhaps the Historic Preservation
Commission should request consultation on these
projects as
well as a matter of course, as Community Development
has done with other land use requests.

Between Washington and Hayes on Third Street, the 1912
Center, the Methodist Church and the Fort Russell
Neighborhood National Register Historic District
all would feel the impact of designation of Third
Street as an arterial, through the reduction or
removal of parking, the increase of traffic and its
attendant fumes, shaking, etc., and possible widening
now or in the future.

Part of National Register designation requires local
government to assess any impacts of projects that
might use Federal funds. While the Third Street Bridge
may or may not involve the direct use of Federal
highway money,
the practice of assessment is a sound one, especially
as it involves such an important potential change as
the designation of the street as an arterial and the
installation of adjacent 'improvements' that would be
required to sustain such usage.

Once the City views the real impacts of the proposal
for arterial status for Third Street, the unwise
character of this option for the community as a whole
as well as historic structures in and around it will
become
apparent. Protection of historic districts and
individually designated structures from degrading
traffic patterns is in the interest of all of Moscow,
now and in the future.

Please take the time to write to City Council to voice
your opposition to extending Third Street.
-Tom Ivie

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