We'll know when we see a rendering that really shows the sidewalk perspective. Trader Joes is raised up several feet because of flood plain issues. It makes it really hard to be an asset to the sidewalk when you're 3-4 feet above it. (Also when you put the entrance in the rear, but that's another story.)
I've experienced great "sidewalks" that incorporate old loading docks as part of the pedestrian path (Denver, Milwaukee, etc have these kinds of places) but that works best when you have a row of raised buildings. That way, you can go up the stairs (or ramp) and then walk along the raised sidewalk.
It's not as nice when you have a blank wall along the sidewalk because of flood concerns, and not enough incentive to go up the stairs. We'll see how they handle this.
Here's what the drawings indicate: "Ground" floor level raised about 3.5 to 4 feet above the public sidewalk at the north end of Phase 1, and about 1.5 to 2 feet above the public sidewalk at the south end of Phase 1. A raised "sidewalk" or walkway along the east facade of the building, mostly covered by the projecting living rooms and balconies of the apartments above.
Unless the owner intends to fence and gate off the raised walkway, pedestrians should be able to walk along the lower public sidewalk near the curb or on the raised walkway along front of the building, something akin to a loading dock. A portion of the street-facing wall is shown as a blank wall (the east wall of the toilets and janitor room), but the drawings indicate windows and doors along most of the street-facing wall.
We'll see if it gets built the way it is drawn...
