Letter to the Editor
Replace the garage
Published Friday, May 9, 2008
May 2, 2008
To the editor:
I kick no man when he is down. But this would be an ideal time to tear down that monstrous parking garage and let someone put in a few useful bars and restaurants.
Community Discussion
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someone please enlighten me...
I'm not sure either ... which parking garage?
there's like,
2 of them
here here jon! excellent suggestion. i'm sure he is referring to that ugly thing on the corner of second and lacy.
Whats the problem with it? I think the chain link fence they attached to it gives a nice added touch. :)
I have never heard a bar described as "useful" before. That just cracked me up. And I LIKE bars...:-)
the parking garage?....hmm, try the polaris building downtown instead....then a parking garage would be used even more...
I don't care what you put in there, I have no intention of going downtown if I can avoid it. I do not wish to provide additional revenue for the city after they collected their exhorbitant taxes on my property for the 15 years I lived "in town" before moving out in the country. The "Parking Police" are usually hovering like vultures in the background waiting to write tickets 15 seconds after your two hours have elapsed.
The "box stores" provide ample parking and do not cite me for parking near them...
agree doug... my wife and i avoid downtown religiously because of the parking vultures.
Yes take out the Polaris! The only hold up to imploding it is, of course, the marble fronted brand new court house that we just built across the street.
In all honestly, would someone please suggest (constructively) what it would take to bring some revitalization to down town? I dont like the parking, my proeprty taxes or the one way streets either, so that would have to be part of the plan. Other than those obvious answers how do we control the urban sprawl that we have going on?
agree w/JB. well spread, we need to devolop the downtown to be a pedestrian friendly area.
How about setting up parking areas outside the downtown area, running regular shuttle buses throughout downtown, and closing off downtown to privately owned vehicles.
The old K-Mart or Carrs buildings could be leveled for parking areas. Good bus routes would make it easy to get from those parking areas to anywhere downtown.
I have a bad knee that sometimes make it difficult to walk any distance. I especially dread going downtown because of the parking mess and the probability I might have to walk several blocks. I would much prefer to park elsewhere and catch a bus to my periodic appointments. With good parking and good shuttle bus service I would probably even shop there.
Griff,
Now you've hit on one of my other 'raw nerves' - I don't do public transport. Last time I did was to get into Washington DC on Bicentenial 4th of July; the Metropolitan Bus Network had advertized for weeks for people to drive to 5 or 6 'collection' points and take the bus into the city and then take the bus back to the point where we'd left our car. At about 11:30 PM after a night of beautiful music and astonishing fireworks, my wife and two sons (6 and 4 years at the time) went to get on a bus. The buses, one after the other, closed their doors and left. They were EMPTY! They left us after busing about 10,000 people into the city without a way to get out of the city. I've ridden municipal buses and street cars in Germany but I will not use them in the United States!
If they can have a parking place within 3 or 4 blocks, I'll park and walk - otherwise, I won't patronize the facilities downtown.
Doug -
I don't have a lot of choice ... three or four blocks puts me at risk of severe knee pain, pain that can keep me from working for two or three days.
I've used public transportation in many places, including Washington DC, Minneapolis, San Francisco, O'ahu, Boston, and Seoul. (Seven weeks in Washington DC in the summer of '88.) I never had a problem but I was also careful to check the bus/subway/train schedule to make sure I was there before the last one left for the evening. I cut many a night's entertainment short to make it back to my lodging in a reasonable fashion. The only place I paid for cabs was in Seoul but 'kimchee cabs' were inexpensive so I saw that as a viable option.
Griff,
I do understand - condolences on the knees. I know that hurts - I've had temporary knee problems on occasion. If I can find a place to park and know I can conclude my business in an hour or less, I'll drive downtown but I still remember two or three buses that night in Washington DC. They pulled away from the curb, empty, and the drivers ignored the people who were begging them to them to open their doors.
Had to leave my wife and two sons sitting on the sidewalk curb while I started walking out of the city. After about 5 or 6 blocks, I got a taxi cab to pull over to take me to my car. I got back to take my family home about an hour later. I will never ride a municipal bus in the united states; if I can't walk or drive, I won't go.
Vision Fairbanks has been trying to do this very thing for months and months and months. There have been NUMEROUS public gatherings for the community to voice their opinion and come up with viable solutions. I was only able to attend one of the meetings, but it was fairly well attended (probably by the same group of concerned citizens that attend all civic-minded events). And I learned a lot and was able to ask questions, give my input and be part of the public process. I believe the proposed plan is now in front of the city or borough for review. Get involved instead of just complaining on comment board!
Haha! I used it once. I pulled in midday and it was empty. I have to agree with the letter.
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