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Urban Parking
Submitted by Bill Pittman on Sun, 2007/05/27 - 4:12pm.
I must say that the Market Square Garage has been a boon to downtown by providing affordable, safe & convenient parking. Recently, all of the Wall Ave. metered parking west of the west side of Market Square has been converted to commercial loading / unloading. I'm not certain that this is needed but then again, I don't own a Market Square business; however, there seems in mind to exist a need for convenient parking for "customer loading". When picking up small gift or a bite to eat, the no more than $1 parking in the aforementioned garage is ideal but folks attempting to load larger, heavier items have been ticketed for parking violations on Wall & Union which of course isn't very friendly when we're trying to attract retail customers to Market Square and Gay St.
I would suggest that free, 15 minute meters such as those in front of the Post Office Bldg on Main be installed on Wall east of the east side of Market Square. Push the button and you have 15 minutes free to grab your item. This would provide a great convenience to those loading a chair or end table from Bliss Home, Abode or a case of wine from the wonderful new wine store on Gay.
Parking is very important to retail and this idea would seem to fill a current void. Any reason not to do this?
It cost me four bucks to do a fifteen minute deal at the Courthouse last week.
I don't come downtown much, and when I do, I don't appreciate having to pay this kind of tariff. The pleasure of being downtown is just not worth all that much to me.
Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Sun, 2007/05/27 - 8:30pm.
I think the garage is great if you are going to be around an hour or so. But it would be nice to have more meters or free spaces for quick stuff. They seemed to have changed the metered spots by TVA to delivery trucks only.
Submitted by Bbeanster on Sun, 2007/05/27 - 8:49pm.
It is very difficult to do business at the courthouse, given the nonsense at the parking garage. It's bad enough that the public is banned from using it (except for some token after-hours use), but the notion that we are subsidizing county employees to park there for a third of market price is infuriating; and that's just the ones who pay -- political favorites park free.
Submitted by River Dog on Sun, 2007/05/27 - 11:31pm.
I think next to Re-Runs on Union is a 15 minute zone. Good thought on the meters. They take the guess work out of deciding how long people are there. They are also good because people probably will not run out every 15 minutes to push the button to stay in the spot all day.
I have to work downtown some, and one of the things I hear about are workers parking all day in short term parking meters, or even delivery zones. Some feed the meters and tie up the close spaces. You're right, with the big garage behind the square it is hard to complain too much. I think one dollar for 2 hours. I agree the garage is a pain and it takes a few extra minutes, but I park in the garage at West Town too. I spent some time in D.C. and some other cities and without question you are hiking and parking in garages and lots in most downtown areas.
P.S. a side note, the work on the house looks great!
The spots you refer to on Wall are directly across from the TVA Credit Union and, from my observation, are used largely by patrons there. If I'm not mistaken, they're only 15 minute meters as is. And they stay full for the most part during business hours.
I really don't understand why we should have any free parking downtown during the day, myself. I guarantee that the metered spots turn over more reliably than the parallel stuff along Gay that's only marked with time limit signage. And from a retail perspective, that's what's needed.
And yeah, I don't know of too many successful downtowns that offer abundant free parking. The garages are now free in the evening, and enforcement stops at 6 on the street (except for things like fire hydrants). During the day it's a function of supply and demand. And I'm happy there's enough demand these days to keep them full.
KPD still, for whatever reason, can't seem to get it together to run consistant enforcement. Seems like it's a week on here and there and then a week off, or some such. If one could rely on getting a ticket when ignoring the rules, I think a good deal of the problems would take care of themselves. Bring back the meter maids.
~m.
Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Tue, 2007/05/29 - 1:44pm.
I'm curious as to what the meter money goes to pay for, does it have a purpose other than keeping people from hogging the spot. On the city and county building parking, its horrible that there aren't even handicapped spots nearby. It also gets lost on the media when they say the garage was closed because of 9-11, when it in fact did not close until 2003.
closed because of 9-11, when it in fact did not close until 2003.
Yes, but it was closed based on credible intelligence the squirrel squad beat out of a Mexican dude whose possession of box cutters clearly linked him to al Qaeda. Plus, he looked pretty Arab.
Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Tue, 2007/05/29 - 8:27pm.
Stacey, there are a couple of handicap spaces next to the old courthouse but I imagine they fill up fast. I think there are a few by the ground floor entrance as well.
My favorite lot is the one on Hill beside the bank building. That lot is rarely full and if it is, there's another gravel lot by Riverhouse. A big plus is they have shade trees.
___________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs
The parking situation at the City County Building is a disgrace. No, citizens can't park in the garage during the day. They can park there at night for a fee, but there is no direct access to the building - i.e., you would have to exit the garage on Locust and walk up the hill and around to the front of the building.
That said, parking in other parts of downtown shouldn't be a problem. Try the Locust Street or Market Square garages - $1 for the first 2 hours and free after 6 and on weekends.
Update - I've been informed I'm wrong about the CC garage - parking is free at nights and on the weekend. I'm not wrong about building access.
It cost me four bucks to do a fifteen minute deal at the Courthouse last week.
I don't come downtown much, and when I do, I don't appreciate having to pay this kind of tariff. The pleasure of being downtown is just not worth all that much to me.
I think the garage is great if you are going to be around an hour or so. But it would be nice to have more meters or free spaces for quick stuff. They seemed to have changed the metered spots by TVA to delivery trucks only.
It is very difficult to do business at the courthouse, given the nonsense at the parking garage. It's bad enough that the public is banned from using it (except for some token after-hours use), but the notion that we are subsidizing county employees to park there for a third of market price is infuriating; and that's just the ones who pay -- political favorites park free.
I think next to Re-Runs on Union is a 15 minute zone. Good thought on the meters. They take the guess work out of deciding how long people are there. They are also good because people probably will not run out every 15 minutes to push the button to stay in the spot all day.
I have to work downtown some, and one of the things I hear about are workers parking all day in short term parking meters, or even delivery zones. Some feed the meters and tie up the close spaces. You're right, with the big garage behind the square it is hard to complain too much. I think one dollar for 2 hours. I agree the garage is a pain and it takes a few extra minutes, but I park in the garage at West Town too. I spent some time in D.C. and some other cities and without question you are hiking and parking in garages and lots in most downtown areas.
P.S. a side note, the work on the house looks great!
The spots you refer to on Wall are directly across from the TVA Credit Union and, from my observation, are used largely by patrons there. If I'm not mistaken, they're only 15 minute meters as is. And they stay full for the most part during business hours.
I really don't understand why we should have any free parking downtown during the day, myself. I guarantee that the metered spots turn over more reliably than the parallel stuff along Gay that's only marked with time limit signage. And from a retail perspective, that's what's needed.
And yeah, I don't know of too many successful downtowns that offer abundant free parking. The garages are now free in the evening, and enforcement stops at 6 on the street (except for things like fire hydrants). During the day it's a function of supply and demand. And I'm happy there's enough demand these days to keep them full.
KPD still, for whatever reason, can't seem to get it together to run consistant enforcement. Seems like it's a week on here and there and then a week off, or some such. If one could rely on getting a ticket when ignoring the rules, I think a good deal of the problems would take care of themselves. Bring back the meter maids.
~m.
I'm curious as to what the meter money goes to pay for, does it have a purpose other than keeping people from hogging the spot. On the city and county building parking, its horrible that there aren't even handicapped spots nearby. It also gets lost on the media when they say the garage was closed because of 9-11, when it in fact did not close until 2003.
closed because of 9-11, when it in fact did not close until 2003.
Yes, but it was closed based on credible intelligence the squirrel squad beat out of a Mexican dude whose possession of box cutters clearly linked him to al Qaeda. Plus, he looked pretty Arab.
Stacey, there are a couple of handicap spaces next to the old courthouse but I imagine they fill up fast. I think there are a few by the ground floor entrance as well.
My favorite lot is the one on Hill beside the bank building. That lot is rarely full and if it is, there's another gravel lot by Riverhouse. A big plus is they have shade trees.
___________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs
This is a naive question, but is there free parking for the public during County Commision, MPC, etc meetings?
Parking downtown is like an Easter egg hunt, and when you find an egg you have to pay for it.
I believe there is "free" parking (every day?) in some parking garages after a certain hour. Nothing to do with County Commission, MPC, etc. meetings.
The parking situation at the City County Building is a disgrace. No, citizens can't park in the garage during the day. They can park there at night for a fee, but there is no direct access to the building - i.e., you would have to exit the garage on Locust and walk up the hill and around to the front of the building.
That said, parking in other parts of downtown shouldn't be a problem. Try the Locust Street or Market Square garages - $1 for the first 2 hours and free after 6 and on weekends.
Update - I've been informed I'm wrong about the CC garage - parking is free at nights and on the weekend. I'm not wrong about building access.
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