A quick ride along Front Street south of the Tower Bridge reveals that all three of the projects in that area are proceeding apace, giving even the casual visitor a sense of what our riverfront development is going to look like in the very near future. With the death yesterday of Charles Gwathmey, the architect behind the new Crocker addition, we wanted to share these photos, taken, unbeknownst to us, on what would be the day of his passing.

Image by: by dwb

First is the new Crocker addition, which will triple the size of the museum, and more importantly, create a modern new presence that is visible from I-5 as well as from the riverfront area.

Last week, crews started adding the metal facing that will give the center its sleek, modern feel. With the factory-like triangular roofs across the top, it looks like a Charles Sheeler painting for the 21st Century.

And the front entrance, which sits near the old Victorian structure, is shaping up beautifully.

On a sad note, the architect who designed the new Crocker wing, Charles Gwathmey, died on Monday in New York City at the age of 71. The Crocker will be one of his last buildings to be built. There's a good piece on him in today's New York Times.

On a more pedestrian, and happier note, the old railroad viaduct that crosses I-5 from R Street to Front Street looks to be right on schedule to open by the end of this month.

The pedestrian bridge, which has long brought those in the know from downtown to the Sacramento River faster than any other route, is now safer and more attractive, if not as down-low and vaguely hip, frequented only by skaters, frequent bikers and the homeless. In addition to the new asphalt surface, which extends from road to road where there was once only gravel, the original railing has been retained, and low lights are currently being added to keep the pathway useful at night. 

Finally, on the river side of the bridge, on Front Street, improvements to the railroad line continue, and the core of a new plaza has been added just south of the bridge, the outer ring and steps leading up to it taking shape over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, the new rail line for the excursion train to Miller Park, with a promenade on the west side, is also proceeding south from the first stage of the original promenade that starts at the Tower Bridge and Embassy Suites. 

We'll be keeping an eye on all this development, the first, bold steps towards integrating downtown with the river that flows past us, barely noticed, day after day, year after year. It's a long way from here to San Antonio's Riverwalk, but the first steps look promising.