I'm not against them removing Dick's if they feel that could improve the overall success of The Gateway. I am one who has made many suggestions of what types of businesses need to locate there in order to get the most out of it's location, neighborhood retail and entertainment.
With that said though, the point that has been made that the access/design is horrible and that the only place it actually invites people in as the NW corner of 200 S and 400 W. Other than that's it's horrible.
I do think there are some solutions to open it up without removing Dick's, again if that's what's best go for it, but here is an option that could go a long way into creating a bit more interaction with the surrounding streets but more importantly with the surrounding neighborhood and pedestrians.
The parking lot entrance on 400 W isn't as bad as several have made it out to be. Parking need to have ingress and egress somewhere. If they reoriented much of the 400 W frontage for more usable retail, when there is pedestrian traffic cars will naturally be more cautious when pulling out of the garage.
Here would be my punch list, without removing Dick's.
1) Narrow 100 S between 200 W and 600 W, there is absolutely no need for a five lane road through that stretch, it's not a major e/w corridor. Create a shared auto bike lane in each direction and a left turn lane at the intersections. Re-purpose the space to allow for retail options, and allow those tenants to have blade signs to draw people off of 100 S
2) Depot corridor 1. Create an e/w corridor all the way from 400 W to Rio Grande St. Reorient the first floor of the office building and the north side of the Barnes and Noble building to allow access from that new access. (in the image)
3) Depot Corridor 2: Relocate Flemmings and remove that building. Create another corridor from 400 W all the way to Rio Grande St. They could rebuild or retain the northern portion of that building. Reconfigure the Dick's space and place retail and restaurant locations facing the new corridor. (in the image) I think this one is critical for attracting people from VSA. Imagine them walking out the NW doors, looking to the west a seeing visual site path down that corridor that has blade signs announcing what is there Be the "Buffalo Wild Wings" "Something, something bar" "Flemmings", Hell even "Walgreens".
4) 500 W Corridor: Remove a large portion of the building on the west side of the Olympic Plaza, and open up the access to 500 W. Orient retail facing 500 W, the corridor and the plaza. (in the image)
All three of those corridors will open up that northern block to be more free flowing. Site lines are critical, especially for people that aren't familiar with the development ,and where that walkway to Flemmings leads to after it goes behind the depot will turn many unfamiliar pedestrians away. The same with the northern portion.
5) 100 S and all the above corridors need to have blade signs. Blade signs announce to passerby's what exactly is available down that pathway and can draw them, in, which can eventually draw them in further.
6) Remove the retail portion of the skybridge over 100 S, where LoveSac was. I don't have a huge issue with keeping the walkway, just open up the site from 500 W.
7) Develop the northern parking lot adjacent to N. Temple into housing with hidden parking. Engage he future residents of the Hardware Village and put some retail opportunities along 500 W, drawing them under the viaduct and into the Gateway.
8) Reorient some of the space facing the E/W road south of Hyatt Place, into so that they interact with that road as well. Blade signs could help here too.
9) Re-purpose the 400 W space to engage 400 W.
10) Re-purpose the 500 W frontage to accommodate retail opportunities.
When I refer to retail opportunities/space I have a very broad definition of that for The Gateway. Basically anything that could draw a pedestrian in, art gallery, bar, tea bar, restaurant, drug store, etc etc etc.
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