Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Burlington Streets Challenge - New North End, Complete

Another installment in the series to ride every public road within Burlington's city limits in 2015.

I have mixed feelings about finishing this segment of my challenge. It means I will no longer have motivation to seek out neighborhoods I'd yet to explore within proximity of our camp, easy weekend access. It was in this exploration that I discovered the true nature of neighborhood diversity: entire street of fourplexes without a soul in sight versus active neighborhoods full of children versus quieter immaculately groomed yards, usually (but not always) signifying retired homeowners.
And contrary to my husband's proclamation that North End neighborhoods are unpredictable - he insists a neighbor might work on cars until all hours of the night - I see the positives. I love flat, easy to navigate by bicycle landscape. It is acceptable, even preferable, to ride on sidewalks; busy North Avenue is currently dangerous (soon to be redesigned to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists). There is more space in general: wider streets, larger yards than older Burlington neighborhoods. Proximity to waterfront bike path is an added bonus, which connects to downtown, South End, or northward into Colchester.

There are garage sales to stop at, again easier to meander when roads are flat. On a recent family bike ride, one son bought a recliner. We paid the seller, continued on our adventure, then returned later with the car to transport his chair.

There is a sense of shared community here - perhaps even rivalry - if elections results are any indication. North End is a working class neighborhood whereas the South End and downtown neighborhoods are increasingly gentrified. Between high rental properties and house prices, driven by students seeking apartments close to downtown campuses, the North End is the last affordable place to buy a Burlington home.

A neighborhood of single story ranch homes.
The North End also has a centrally located shopping district, the only one of it's kind within city limits. You can visit a doctor, post office, dentist, bagel shop, hardware store, and food store within walking distance or three minute bike ride. The grocery store has the best bike racks: upfront and under cover. All North End neighborhoods are within one mile of public parks and lakefront access.

Oh, honey, I beg to differ. I could see myself someday living in this region.

Completed Streets to date:
  1. Henry Street
  2. Crombie Street
  3. Cedar Street
  4. Volz Street
  5. North Prospect Street
  6. Woodbury Road
  7. Woodlawn Road
  8. Brierwood Lane
  9. Balsam Street
  10. Vine Street
  11. Edgemoor Street
  12. Cayuga Court
  13. Dorset Lane
  14. Birch Court
  15. Fairmont Place
  16. Cottage Grove
  17. Tracy Drive
  18. West Road
  19. Oakland Terrace
  20. York Drive
  21. Western Avenue
  22. Cross Parkway
  23. Loaldo Drive
  24. Janet Circle
  25. James Avenue
  26. Gazo Avenue
  27. Sandra Circle
  28. Lori Lane
  29. Matthew Avenue
  30. Randy Lane
  31. Charity Street
  32. Hope Street
  33. Faith Street 
  34. Ledge Road
  35. Clover Lane
  36. Turf Road
  37. Pennington Drive
  38. West Haven Drive
  39. Algird Street
  40. Borestone 
  41. Riverview Drive
  42. Fairfield Drive
  43. Westward Drive
  44. Hardy Avenue
  45. North Avenue
  46. Browe Court
  47. Forest Street
  48. Brooks Avenue
  49. Maple Street
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1 comment:

  1. Justine ValinottiAugust 29, 2015 at 7:43 PM

    Hmm...There's something I could do: Go to some town and cycle every single street. I don't know that it would be possible here in NYC (especially given my age). But perhaps in a smaller 'burg it would work.

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