Put simply, the Dignowity Hill community is unhappy about the design direction of the Cherry Street improvements project. The project keeps unsightly utilities above ground and lacks the bike lanes, street trees, and landscape bumpouts discussed at the initial community design meeting. We do not accept this “bare minimum” response in our neighborhood where we already lack sidewalks, curbs, street gutters, and even paving in some areas. With more street improvement projects  in our neighborhood’s near future, this project makes an important statement about the quality of public space our residents expect. A sidewalk without trees and underground utilities would never be allowed on the city’s Northside, so why should it be acceptable here? We demand the reintroduction of street trees and landscape elements into the project for the sake of our neighborhood’s health, safety, and welfare.