Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Green Street Issue Moves Toward Resolution VOL. LXIII-NO. 53 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. 29208 Thursday, May 3, 1973 IV, 14 RITA MCKINNEY - . .prnts student argumeni The Progress of Spring Football See Page 7 USC Asks C Traffic Chair Planning Ba By PATRICK TYLER Ganecc News Raftr Final word on the proposed Green Street trial-closing is expected at the next Columbia City Council meetings May 16, Mayor John T. Campbell said after Wednesday's public hear Mg. Eight USC representatives from administra tion, faculty, police, student government and general student body appeared before the council yesterday morning to present argu ments for the proposed closing which, if accepted, will come in October of this year. Douglas I. Fitzgerald, assistant .vice presi dent for business affairs, in a prepared speech told the council, "Green Street should be closed to traffic for the month of October, 1973. It would be closed roughly between Sumter and Pickens streets, with the actual plan being based on discussions between the Columbia Traffic Committee and the university (inclu ding students.)" The assistant explained the request saying "The month of October is the first normal month of the academic year when most stu dents are on campus." In arguing for the closing, Fitzgerald cited a 1961 special city planning study consulted on by Wilbur Smith and Associates, who are also planning consultants for the university, which made the recommendation that Green be closed between Sumter and Pickens along with the widening recommendation for Pickens Street. Widening and "sinking" operations at Pickens will begin as soon as possible after May 10, according to Fitzgerald. However after all arguments had been heard in favor of the October closing, Robert Whiteside, a Wilbur Smith Associates consul tant for the city, told the council that he agreed that the street could be closed, but disagreed with the October closing date. Whiteside said that with the construction on Pickens, that will close that street at least until next December, the university should move up the proposed closing month to early next spring so that traffic would not be blocked simultane ously on both streets. The chairman of the city traffic committee, Fred Lamb, echoed Whiteside's statement say ing "We are not opposing the plan, but we do object to the timing." He said he thought the closing would not be a "true demonstration" if both streets were closed. After the hearing Lamb said what the city would have to find out should the street be closed for the trial period would be "where these people go," and If the, other adjoining streets could accommodate the extra traffic. Lamb said that his committee had not discus sed the sneelftes of. what information the city )ct. Closing; man Says dly Timed would want during the trial closing in order for them to make the long range decision to close the street. Lamb did say that Wilbur Smith and Associates had car-counting hoses on Green Street last week and added "but you people cut 'em up."* Rita McKinney, USC student body president, speaking in favor of the closing, told the council that the stretch of Street in front of Russell House is a potential hazard to students and drivers. She also said that the noise pollution from the traffic impedes the study habits of students in Preston and Woodrow dorms. McKinney paralleled the construction of the pedestrian mall on Green with the proposed mall over the downtown area of Columbia. She said just as the city hopes to improve the economy downtown with the mall, the students hope to improve the vitality of the campus by removing the Green Street "split." Also speaking in favor of the mall was Dr. John L. Safko, of the astronomy department who said that the staff of the Melton Observat ory at the corner of Bull and Green streets could "see" the traffic because it made the tele scope of the observatory"rumble'. Two local merchants spoke in favor of the closing, Jimi leventis of the "Winner's Circle" restaurant and the South Carolina Bookstore, both of which said they did not think their busi ness would be affected by the closing. George Key, who heads the USC Security Division told the council that, in terms of the safety of pedestrian and motorist safety, he would recommend the closing. Al Pollard, attorney general for the student government association, also told the council that "academic reflection"suffers the worst form the traffic on the street. Another student, Susan Maxwell, added that the aesthetic and academic environments would greatly benefit from the closing. IAigh Leventis, vice president of the student body, echoed the closing arguments and then the student position was summed up by student supreme court Chief Justice, Doug Dent who said, "I think you have seen a joining of hands of the community" in making the effort to close the street. Dent said this was proof that com munity spirit can take action within today's political system. Whiteside and Lamb gave the opinions of the city traffic committee before the council heard the arguments against the closing. Before say ing that he did not think the traffic committee would oppose the trial closing, he suggested that the university look into the possibility of handling the 76 per cent of university-traffic which uses the street "administratively." Se McK(INNEY. Page.3.