Friends, there are competing interests here and it would be helpful to know how they will be addressed. In the past, these "pedestrian friendly aesthetic bump outs" while making things look nice: 1) took numerous valuable already-too few parking spaces away from existing small businesses, and 2) congested the flow of downtown traffic as people had to circle the downtown streets trying to find a space to park. Cars often even stop in traffic mid-block holding up traffic hoping someone might be done needing the space and leave. Being a downtown property owner, I have personally had clients ask that we find a meeting place other than my downtown office because there is "no parking".
Now I know that the intentions are good with this project. I also know that those who have worked hard to come up with this idea are enthusiastic about it and are not likely to put much importance on the flaws in the plan as they plough ahead. They likely have their "minds set" now and they likely have a leg up on having the planning department's ear.
Please however, consider that the destruction of further convenient curb-side parking spaces will have a significant downside to it. When implementing the original aesthetics, the city fought hard to preserve the spaces we currently have and now this project has the potential to take some of those away. Business owners and employees are now taking up those valuable remaining parking spots just to access their own businesses and places of employment. That means customers and clients can't find parking as it is.
The issue is, do you really want less parking downtown?
Don't kill (or at least wound) the golden downtown businesses that are laying the golden downtown egg. Please find an aesthetic that does not sacrifice more curb-side parking. Thanks for considering this view.
Downtown has become the top tourist destination in the state. I applaud the efforts to make it a safer place for residents and visitors. Yes, it will be a less car friendly place than it has been, but that's a reality in many popular cities these days.
Friends, there are competing interests here and it would be helpful to know how they will be addressed. In the past, these "pedestrian friendly aesthetic bump outs" while making things look nice: 1) took numerous valuable already-too few parking spaces away from existing small businesses, and 2) congested the flow of downtown traffic as people had to circle the downtown streets trying to find a space to park. Cars often even stop in traffic mid-block holding up traffic hoping someone might be done needing the space and leave. Being a downtown property owner, I have personally had clients ask that we find a meeting place other than my downtown office because there is "no parking".
Now I know that the intentions are good with this project. I also know that those who have worked hard to come up with this idea are enthusiastic about it and are not likely to put much importance on the flaws in the plan as they plough ahead. They likely have their "minds set" now and they likely have a leg up on having the planning department's ear.
Please however, consider that the destruction of further convenient curb-side parking spaces will have a significant downside to it. When implementing the original aesthetics, the city fought hard to preserve the spaces we currently have and now this project has the potential to take some of those away. Business owners and employees are now taking up those valuable remaining parking spots just to access their own businesses and places of employment. That means customers and clients can't find parking as it is.
The issue is, do you really want less parking downtown?
Don't kill (or at least wound) the golden downtown businesses that are laying the golden downtown egg. Please find an aesthetic that does not sacrifice more curb-side parking. Thanks for considering this view.
Downtown has become the top tourist destination in the state. I applaud the efforts to make it a safer place for residents and visitors. Yes, it will be a less car friendly place than it has been, but that's a reality in many popular cities these days.
Didn’t DTSF do this in the past and it was a mess? What goes around, comes around again!