It’s the end of a busy day. I’ve survived the high-pressure nature of a bustling kitchen, enduring constant sensory overload. I exit the building, cross the street, enter the garage and find my car. I mute the outside world by closing my car door, “fwomp” and silence. I breathe deeply, start the car and feel the cooling breeze of the A/C. A moment of peace before my playlist kicks in. I reflect on how much our cars mean to us … a physical manifestation of solitude, an extension of our personalities, a necessary mode of transportation that nearly all of us must utilize.

Cars need roads and parking spaces. People need sidewalks and places to gather and connect.

That balance informed the debate leading to the Tejon St. Revitalization Project, along with concerns of the impact on businesses during construction. I partnered with the city staff by attending pre-cursory meetings. Building community, which restaurants strive to achieve, involves not just our interiors but the exterior spaces as well. I intended to ensure that every decision reflected the needs of our guests, neighbors, local businesses and visitors to our block.

Moving here from St. Louis, I chose to open my restaurant in the city center, on the spine of commerce and activity that is Tejon Street. We celebrate a decade of thriving business in January. In that time, The Downtown Partnership and The city of Colorado Springs have steadily invested in our block to sustain and grow business. So much so, that I decided to buy the hundred-year-old, historic building that houses Red Gravy Italian Bistro.

In what was once a typical decrepit alleyway lined with dumpsters and debris, a coalition was formed to create The AdAmAn Alley. Now, I witness skateboarders having some fun, groups of people admiring the public art, tourists learning about Barr Trail and workers going to and fro in a clean and safe pedestrian thoroughfare. For this project, the communication and collaboration between businesses in the affected footprint, Utilities and the city exceeded my expectations. I was ecstatic to learn the same team would be overseeing the “Glow up” of Tejon Street.

Much consideration went into the need for more pedestrian-friendly space on two of the most bustling blocks in downtown Colorado Springs, our “Main Street”. What was needed? More space to enjoy parades & festivals, consistent size and design of patio spaces, better use of the limited street parking and narrowing the street a bit, to slow vehicular traffic. My wife uses a wheelchair and the struggle to navigate the narrow sidewalks downtown has been a real challenge. Families with strollers or any large group forced to walk single file surely felt equally boxed in.

This project has been amazing to witness. Even Preisser Inc. (the “construction team”) honored the city’s promise to minimize any negative impact on our businesses. We thank them for their intense focus on cleanliness, safety and unfettered accessibility to our front doors. The use of informational signage and clearly marked pathways created more of a temporary carnival vibe than the typical construction site with “barriers”. Our guests continued to dine regularly and checked on the progress, which has been swift and impressive. We experienced absolutely no decline in business.

We are on the verge of completion on our block. The sense of space is evident. I’m amazed that so much pedestrian right of way has been garnered by simply removing the center lane. My vendors understand the need for our public’s unhindered access to the streets, sidewalks and parking spaces and have adapted accordingly. Vehicles parked there always felt unsafe, anyway.

We marvel at the special grid structure under the pavement, encouraging the new trees to thrive. We anticipate the lights that will be strung up to sparkle through their branches.

We look forward to the dance of sunshine and shade under that canopy on new benches, allowing a resting place to map your next adventures.

When choosing a place to dine, shop, work, live or play, we welcome you to the new and improved Tejon St. Multimodal forms of transportation including the Zeb, Pike Ride and the amusing Lime Scooters provide access to parking garages, dining and shopping north to south. Bike lanes and urban trails lead to the ever-present natural beauty of the Pikes Peak region. Downtown is connected!

Leave your car behind and enjoy the sense of connection and community in these new spaces while supporting your local, independent and uniquely Colorado Springs businesses.

Chef Eric Brenner is the owner of Red Gravy, an Italian restaurant on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs.