Main Street U.S.A. concrete replacement project begins tomorrow

[steve2wdw]

It seems that there is a story that Kodak originally suggested the red concrete....the combination of the red from the sidewalks, the grayish-blue asphalt, and the green grass/trees, would blend well in photos. Don't know if this is urban myth or not, but when the MK was designed, all the colors were altered from DL, as the sunlight in Florida creates a different effect than in Cali. I'm sure that the art directors for Main St must have considered the color of the sidewalks when the rest of the color palette was selected. The town I live in has red brick sidewalks everywhere....too bad the MK's Main Street sidewalks couldn't have been upgraded from concrete to brick.

OK....how the heck did I post a paragraph about the color of concrete?

 

[tare]

Real brick would be nice like they have out in Anaheim. If real brick isn't practical, then a stamped brick design could be nice. I absolutely loved the look of the brick at Disneyland.

I'm thinking the same way.

 

[Crazydisneyfanluke]

Any updates? have they moved on to the next area?

 

[Otamin]

Any updates? have they moved on to the next area?

I just want to see just how bad it'll look with no curbs.

I wouldn't completely mind if they had smaller curbs, but to completely get rid of them is pathetic.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Is it confirmed they removed the curbs?

 

[Texas84]

They're removing the curbs? So much for the small town feel.

 

[ToTBellHop]

They're removing the curbs? So much for the small town feel.

Small town?

At least we don't have real small-town America.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Small town?

At least we don't have real small-town America.

I find it amazing how everybody's main street looked the same. There must have been a book on urban planning that was passed around for decades.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I find it amazing how everybody's main street looked the same. There must have been a book on urban planning that was passed around for decades.

If you, or anybody else, is interested in the history of the American conception of Main Street including its revitalization inspired by Main Street, USA, I would highly recommend Main Street Revisited: Time, Space and Image Building in Small-town America by Richard V. Francaviglia. It is not very long but a great read that changed my perception of Main Street, USA and what it means.

 

[wogwog]

Update. Cue plan B. A neighbor tells me he saw the construction today and Emporium corner is still walled up and no other area is yet under construction walls. He talked to a manager he knows at MK and was told unexpected issues have emerged and that is why the project is taking so much longer than a week as was the original plan. Now 17 days late. Evidently in the park construction in 1970ish no one thought anyone in the future would think it a good idea to remove curbs. Something under the curb area can't be easily removed. I am thinking underground utilities or storm drains or your best guess. The new plan is to enlarge the ramp on the corner to about three times the previous width to help the '20,000 strollers' in the park have a wider ramp and leave the curb on Main St.. If they later figure out how to remove or relocate what ever is causing the work stopage perhaps they will give it another try.

At least we will get some new sidewalk in a brighter color.

This might not prevent them from removing other area curbs but the one by the Eporium has presented a problem. If they have any money left after the MyMagic minus fiasco they might try again.

 

[TTA94]

Update. Cue plan B. A neighbor tells me he saw the construction today and Emporium corner is still walled up and no other area is yet under construction walls. He talked to a manager he knows at MK and was told unexpected issues have emerged and that is why the project is taking so much longer than a week as was the original plan. Now 17 days late. Evidently in the park construction in 1970ish no one thought anyone in the future would think it a good idea to remove curbs. Something under the curb area can't be easily removed. I am thinking underground utilities or storm drains or your best guess. The new plan is to enlarge the ramp on the corner to about three times the previous width to help the '20,000 strollers' in the park have a wider ramp and leave the curb on Main St.. If they later figure out how to remove or relocate what ever is causing the work stopage perhaps they will give it another try.

At least we will get some new sidewalk in a brighter color.

This might not prevent them from removing other area curbs but the one by the Eporium has presented a problem. If they have any money left after the MyMagic minus fiasco they might try again.

They should just leave the curbs alone then, replace the sidewalks and the street, remove the trolly tracks since im sure that's a safety hazard and doesnt work that well now a days anyway.

I would rather them leave it all alone then keep some curbs and remove others... It will really look bad then!

 

[erwinalber4]

Wouldn't a simple paint job do the trick? As far as restoring previous beauty? I don't understand the curb issue.

 

[Goofyernmost]

They should just leave the curbs alone then, replace the sidewalks and the street, remove the trolly tracks since im sure that's a safety hazard and doesnt work that well now a days anyway.

I would rather them leave it all alone then keep some curbs and remove others... It will really look bad then!

I understand what you are saying about the trolly tracks, but, the trolly even in it's current restricted usage, is a very big part of the MSUSA image and would be a major downer if removed. It's getting to the point where MS is nothing more then a massive gift shop as it is. Removing the curbs also takes away the overall atmosphere of MS and is, at best, a stupid idea. Install a few more wheelchair accessible spots along the way...sure, but removing them completely will be a show killer. Maybe Walt is watching over and decided that this was the last straw and created a road block. Hey, it could happen!

 

[Otamin]

Update. Cue plan B. A neighbor tells me he saw the construction today and Emporium corner is still walled up and no other area is yet under construction walls. He talked to a manager he knows at MK and was told unexpected issues have emerged and that is why the project is taking so much longer than a week as was the original plan. Now 17 days late. Evidently in the park construction in 1970ish no one thought anyone in the future would think it a good idea to remove curbs. Something under the curb area can't be easily removed. I am thinking underground utilities or storm drains or your best guess. The new plan is to enlarge the ramp on the corner to about three times the previous width to help the '20,000 strollers' in the park have a wider ramp and leave the curb on Main St.. If they later figure out how to remove or relocate what ever is causing the work stopage perhaps they will give it another try.

At least we will get some new sidewalk in a brighter color.

This might not prevent them from removing other area curbs but the one by the Eporium has presented a problem. If they have any money left after the MyMagic minus fiasco they might try again.

So things may potentially not be as bad as they would've been? I'm glad they're running into problems in removing them, it serves them right.

 

[JimboJones123]

It seems that there is a story that Kodak originally suggested the red concrete....the combination of the red from the sidewalks, the grayish-blue asphalt, and the green grass/trees, would blend well in photos. Don't know if this is urban myth or not, but when the MK was designed, all the colors were altered from DL, as the sunlight in Florida creates a different effect than in Cali. I'm sure that the art directors for Main St must have considered the color of the sidewalks when the rest of the color palette was selected. The town I live in has red brick sidewalks everywhere....too bad the MK's Main Street sidewalks couldn't have been upgraded from concrete to brick.

OK....how the heck did I post a paragraph about the color of concrete?

With the number of wheels that roll up and down Main St. daily, brick would be a nightmare.

 

[wogwog]

Wouldn't a simple paint job do the trick? As far as restoring previous beauty? I don't understand the curb issue.

Paint would never last under the feet and wheels. Some friends who work at MK, with tongue in cheek, surmise the powers at Disney knew guests would have to have their phones constantly on and eyes glued to them to "take advantage" of MyMagic minus and would trip over curbs. Simply wanted to protect the lemmings.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Paint would never last under the feet and wheels. Some friends who work at MK, with tongue in cheek, surmise the powers at Disney knew guests would have to have their phones constantly on and eyes glued to them to "take advantage" of MyMagic minus and would trip over curbs. Simply wanted to protect the lemmings.

Preoccupied idiots tripping over curbs while starring at their smart phones are all part of the free Main Street entertainment. Isn't it a shame that smart phones can't have smart owners?

 

[unkadug]

Preoccupied idiots tripping over curbs while starring at their smart phones are all part of the free Main Street entertainment. Isn't it a shame that smart phones can't have smart owners?

OMG that is signature worthy!

 

[Goofyernmost]

OMG that is signature worthy!

Go ahead and use it if you like. I'm trying to avoid attention!

 

[wogwog]

Preoccupied idiots tripping over curbs while starring at their smart phones are all part of the free Main Street entertainment. Isn't it a shame that smart phones can't have smart owners?

Perhaps the plan is to have "curb tripping viewing" as a replacement daytime entertainment option next year when MK will not have a day parade for three months. But be sure to reserve a viewing location 60 days out as a MyMickey minus selection experience.