Cincinnati and Baltimore have pulled down “skywalks”

Cincinnati and Baltimore have pulled down “skywalks” that were once seen as a great way to connect downtown buildings. “Cincinnati City Architect Michael Moore said the difference is striking around Fountain Square since 2 of the city’s original 22 skywalk bridges were removed as part of a renovation to make the square a more welcoming downtown center,” the Associated Press reported in January. Baltimore has removed two of its nine skywalks, and more may come down as the city directs development efforts toward the ground level, especially in the area near the Inner Harbor. Second-level circulation systems often make it hard for retail to thrive at street level. Visitors have a difficult time navigating the sometimes circuitous systems. A Baltimore city planner, Jim Hall, said, “All of the excitement now is at the base of buildings where people can stroll through attractive public spaces and walk along promenades. I don’t see us constructing any more skywalks.”