Parts of Cincinnati's second-level skywalks have outlived their usefulness.

City leaders have long recognized downtown skywalks suck pedestrian and retail life away from street level. Ever since links were severed with the Convention Center and across Fifth and Fourth Streets, the skywalk system seems even more broken up with dead-ends. Downtown redevelopment consultant John Alschuler and design firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners advocate tearing down the skywalk particularly along the north side of Fountain Square to open up the perimeter to a new mix of cafes and retail. Yet the skywalks remain popular, especially with office workers in bad weather.

The city should tear down underused and discontinuous sections of the skywalk. Removal of the square's Stalinesque stage and massive, overhanging concrete skywalk darkening the north end is a necessary first step to attract a livelier mix of retail to border Cincinnati's main public square. That skywalk stretch is not even enclosed. The small loss in bad-weather convenience would be more than made up by reclaiming the square as a grand, open, inviting space.

Cincinnati need not rush to dismantle still functioning portions of the skywalk in mostly office sectors of downtown. But a remake of Fountain Square, minus the skywalk, could provide a big boost to the downtown retail district.

Since the Nordstrom deal collapsed at Fifth & Race, skywalk links "that go nowhere" look grotesque. Even the Convention Center is a skywalk dead-end since 9/11; the center was put off-limits to pedestrians seeking to use the second-level walkway.

Skywalk-lovers point to Minneapolis' successful 7-mile system, but Minneapolis is a special case with a fully intact skywalk and harsher winters than ours. Baltimore tore down parts of its skywalk as a public nuisance, without ill effect. More foot-traffic at street level will make Cincinnati streets safer and easier to police.

Cincinnati will need to make sure it replaces skywalks with more downtown housing and unique retail not found in suburban malls. Even malls are switching from enclosed to street access. Make Fountain Square the test case to show there is vibrant life after skywalks.