For many years now, when developers submit proposals for public review, they often include sun studies - renderings of the shadows cast by proposed structures at various hours of the day and times of year. These studies are required because virtually all newly-proposed buildings are now much taller than the existing structures they will replace, and neighbors are rightly concerned about their loss of solar access.
A less-studied aspect of new development is its effect on view corridors. In the past, this topic mostly came up when residents protested potential loss of their ocean views, but downtown areas also have views. These are often restricted to corridors above streets, narrow canyons between tall buildings on either side. But those narrow corridors can also provide surprisingly-pleasant views, just as a camera focuses attention on a view by restricting the framing of a scene.
Those accidental corridor views, however, are often temporary. The photo above (from Pacific Avenue) shows what's happening to the view on the Lincoln Street corridor as the new central library project goes up. The existing view of historical and picturesque Calvary Episcopal Church (granted, it's the less-interesting rear of the building) is gradually being blocked as the new building rises.
However, view corridors can also be created and/or enhanced. The pedestrian areas of the soon-to-open mixed-use project on Front Street are new connections between downtown and the levee-top Riverwalk. The photo at left, taken from the top of the steps leading down to Front and Cathcart streets, shows the new view from there.
And, at the other end of short Cathcart Street is another of the new paseos that are another part of city planning to increase walkability. See Changes 57, which describes the changes at both ends of Cathcart.
