How would you guys solve the parking problem in downtown? Especially the overpriced parking problem downtown?
Oh, before you guys say there is no parking problem downtown, I bet if you survey all of Duval and the surrounding counties, you'll find the vast majority of people mention there is a parking problem downtown. If they think there's a parking problem, there's a parking problem.
Yes, the parking is overpriced. Parking in downtown for an average citizen of Jacksonville who comes to see a show or fireworks or convention will pay $10. That means every time they visit downtown, they spend $10 on parking. This is too expensive.
QuoteOh, before you guys say there is no parking problem downtown, I bet if you survey all of Duval and the surrounding counties, you'll find the vast majority of people mention there is a parking problem downtown. If they think there's a parking problem, there's a parking problem.
Most of the people I ask about downtown will say "Where's that?"
Where is parking 10 bucks? I park on the street for a quarter to 50 cents if an hour, or longer with our cool new meters that accept nickels, dimes and debit cards.
To me, there is not a parking problem, there is however a perception problem.
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 28, 2012, 04:05:27 PM
QuoteOh, before you guys say there is no parking problem downtown, I bet if you survey all of Duval and the surrounding counties, you'll find the vast majority of people mention there is a parking problem downtown. If they think there's a parking problem, there's a parking problem.
Most of the people I ask about downtown will say "Where's that?"
Where is parking 10 bucks? I park on the street for a quarter to 50 cents if an hour, or longer with our cool new meters that accept nickels, dimes and debit cards.
To me, there is not a parking problem, there is however a perception problem.
"$10 Special Event Parking"
Most people only go to downtown when there is a special event at the Times Union Center or The Landing. That is their only impression of the place.
Their parking experience is either a bunch of overpriced parking lots next to empty lots which say "Monthly Parking Only: Violates Will Be Towed" or "No Parking Allowed". They don't know how to parallel park and their impression of street parking is that people are going to steal their car so that leaves the lots for them.
To make things even more fun, they are not used to all the one way roads so once they pass by a lot, they completely miss the venue while having a panic attack all while trying to figure out how to get back to it and that $10 parking lot. Oh, and don't forget to block half the roads with police cars and traffic lanes to make them even more lost.
If that was my only impression of the place, no wonder I would go to the SJTC! Parking is easy to find there and I don't have to worry about being fined or towed. Fireworks and shows like Riverdance brings people to Downtown. Downtown does everything it can to make sure they never come back.
I know how to park in downtown and I don't even like going to downtown except when I have to for fear of my car being fined, towed, ticketed, or crashed into. It's such a hassle to get into.
If I were in charge, I would make three of the city owned garages FREE and open 24/7. Then I advertise to everyone in the city that Water Street is the "Official Parking Garage of Downtown Jacksonville". If Water Street becomes full, I would put lots of big colorful signs and have people in bright orange shirts in charge to direct them to show them other low cost parking spots around town. They would also help them get to different venues around town. They should be as friendly and helpful as a Publix store clerk while not hassling you about parking regulations like the ones who are currently in charge of these lots. Whatever I would do, I would make parking a pleasant experience to all of downtown Jacksonville's guests.
As for how to pay for this? I'm sure the increased tax revenue by people actually wanting to come to downtown will more than pay for these minor expenses.
$10 for special event parking is relatively cheap...for comparison, how much does it cost to park for a Jags game?
Quote from: tufsu1 on March 28, 2012, 10:57:06 PM
$10 for special event parking is relatively cheap...for comparison, how much does it cost to park for a Jags game?
That's even worse. Every time an average Jacksonville resident goes to downtown to see a show or see a game, they pay $10-$30 for parking. Not only did they pay for parking, they also bought an expensive ticket to the game or to a show. This is training them that downtown is a very expensive place to go and they should only do it when they can afford it to see this one special event.
That is not how you revive downtown unless you want it to be crowded only on rare special events. If that was the goal of the city, then it reached it. No, not just reached, they surpassed it.
+1^ But isn't that the new plan? The expanded Entertainment District with the new Authority taking over all the Parking Revenue except for city council members. More covered meters?
You can't turn downtown around worrying about special event parking rates on private property. I also don't believe you can regulate what someone can charge another to park on their property.
QuoteThey don't know how to parallel park and their impression of street parking is that people are going to steal their car so that leaves the lots for them.
Sounds like the "problem" is THEIRS to solve...
Additionally... when do "special events" occur? Normally at night and/or on the weekends... when parking is FREE on the streets. Of course you will not find a free spot right in front of the Landing or Florida theater... but within a block or two their are hundreds of free parking spots. Of course parking there requires... locking your car, basic parallel parking competence, and the ability or motivation to walk a few feet. Looks to me like people are being charged extra for convenience, laziness, and unfounded fears... and I have no problem with that...
I must say, I've never paid for special event parking in downtown. I just park on the street...even for the Jaguar games I've attended.
Also, just a general question....are people not required to show they can parallel park when getting a driver's license now? Just wondering.
If there was something to draw people into downtown they wouldn't care about paying a few bucks to park. Create a friendly environment with something to do and it won't be a problem. Lots of other downtowns make you pay to park. I liked San Diego where they had a mix of paid and free spots, the free spots all had some sort of time limit between 9-5. If you couldn't find a free one there were usually a paid spot or two open.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 29, 2012, 06:36:05 AM
You can't turn downtown around worrying about special event parking rates on private property. I also don't believe you can regulate what someone can charge another to park on their property.
But isn't that the plan for the new Authority to have total control over the parking revenue?
Quote from: thelakelander on March 29, 2012, 06:45:22 AM
I must say, I've never paid for special event parking in downtown. I just park on the street...even for the Jaguar games I've attended.
Also, just a general question....are people not required to show they can parallel park when getting a driver's license now? Just wondering.
I certainly didn't have to when I got my license here, back in 1996 or thereabouts. Neither did my younger brother or sister. Or my wife, who got her license in Texas.
I've never paid to park in special event parking either, except for the fair once or twice. On street parking is always available if you're willing to walk a bit. But many of the people attending the fireworks show bring their own chairs - they can't even be bothered to stand in one place for an hour, let alone walk a couple blocks...
Quotethey can't even be bothered to stand in one place for an hour, let alone walk a couple blocks...
Then paying ten bucks should not be an issue...
Quote from: Noone on March 29, 2012, 07:11:32 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on March 29, 2012, 06:36:05 AM
You can't turn downtown around worrying about special event parking rates on private property. I also don't believe you can regulate what someone can charge another to park on their property.
But isn't that the plan for the new Authority to have total control over the parking revenue?
Not that I'm aware of. Perhaps the public owned and operated spaces but definitely not private owned lots.
$10 for parking is expensive?? Parking was $10 when I went to see an Ice Flyers game (soldout), in Pensacola. I've never had a problem parking downtown and after living in bigger and smaller cities with much worse parking situations, I'm flabbergasted that anyone would complain about the situation here.
i never pay to park Downtown. Most people still dont realize parking is free on the streets after 5pm and all weekend long.
On March 25 in the forum on our vision for Jacksonville, I posted comments and among them was the thought that unfortunately our city is not one with a decent sized population of folks with a lot of money. Ocklawaha responded with a statistic showing that our median income is a bit above that of the state as a whole.
Ock, if you look at all the posts above, bemoaning the cost of parking, I think my point is made. They are talking about small change aren't they? I haven't gotten on some high horse here; I don't enjoy paying those parking charges either. I don't think $10 for a special event is a rip off, but I do find Jaguar parking costs egregious - and gladly park for free at my office and walk a mile to the stadium on those rare occasions when I go there.
If one is willing to walk a few blocks, I think there is ample parking downtown most of the time. Unfortunately, too many folks aren't willing to walk a little and object when they cannot pull the car almost to the door of their destination.
The comparison to SJTC is funny, IMHO. That place is so traffic congested it's pathetic. Downtown is not. Easy parking in SJTC is never going to be too close to your destination - possibly no better, nor worse than downtown. But I would concede that walking around there is a lot more enjoyable - no boarded up buildings, no homeless, more to catch your eye, and so on.
Quotebut I do find Jaguar parking costs egregious - and gladly park for free at my office and walk a mile to the stadium on those rare occasions when I go there.
agreed, but as you state, you can find alternatives within a short walk, for free. Or take the water taxi for a minimal charge, and a great ride, or one of the pedicab riders. If this was a discussion on the NFL, I am sure the ticket prices would be the next topic on the agenda. How there are no kid prices in the NFL, which I agree with.
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 29, 2012, 09:26:19 AM
If this was a discussion on the NFL, I am sure the ticket prices would be the next topic on the agenda. How there are no kid prices in the NFL, which I agree with.
I'm not trying to start a dialogue about this, just an FYI:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Jaguars-offer-youth-discounts-for-season-tickets/xBVwXB_rO0y81bEKX6mkNw.cspx
What, no walk-up offering? Its a start, but there should be an offering for walk-up seats as well.
All of the events you are referring to are after hours, which means street parking is free. If someone doesn't want to pay to park, then walk a little farther to your destination.
Free market economics, if parking were too expensive, the $10 lots would be out of business.
AND WHY DO PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT PARKING GARAGE COSTS TO BEGIN WITH??? DOWNTOWN WORKERS SPEND $25K AT LEAST ON THEIR CARS AND THEY DON'T WANT PROTECTION FROM THE FL HEAT THAT CAUSES CRACKING AND DISCOLORATION, RAIN, VANDALISM AND BURGLARIES???
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/12/17790602_597915f3fa.jpg)
We actually have citizens that are excited about the new smart meters... they haven't a clue on how to repopulate downtown.
I would slightly enlarge parking enforcement and scatter those officers all over Duval. Ticket revenue should equal or exceed their payroll. Thus you would be just as likely to get a ticket for illegal parking at the Town Center, as you would downtown.
There are around 43,000 parking spaces in the downtown and around core mostly in garages including about 4,500 meters, both public and private. Assess a tax on garage parking that would equal the revenue coming in from today's metered parking - balanced by city/county wide citations for illegal parking, thus no revenues would be lost. Further a system would be in place to encourage the use of transit by making it more comfortable or productive and less expensive. The combination of parking-transit balance would give people an alternative to the old long commute and steep price for dedicated parking. Next step, ELIMINATE the meters, give them to Orlando! (Anything I can do to help them out.)
Parking enforcement would not be sacrificed, it would be expanded; downtown becoming an area of well defined temporal parking zones and white, red, yellow, green painted curbs.
I would construct new low cost parking garages tied to FIXED mass transit on the perimeter of our suburbs. Essentially boosting and familiarizing our population with transit, rewarding those who drive the least. Of course we would emphasize the transit part of the plan. Many of the suburban park and ride lots would be 'turn key' contracting for use of places like the parking lot at the K-Mart on Beach, or the one in Mandarin. We would thus reduce the downtown commute driving distance distance and creating 'neighborhood' transit hubs,' pushing parking farther and farther out. Each new lot, either surface or in garages, would have a built in bus, BRT, LRT, streetcar or commuter rail stations.
Any businesses moving into the core that desired dedicated parking spaces could then be given a 'menu' of package deals, by DIA including: annual, monthly or weekly, low cost, outlaying parking, JTA passes, corporate passes, student passes in all types of combinations.
To compliment this plan we would seek grants for dedicated BRT lanes or guided bus, on the Arlington Expressway/Atlantic, JTB and Beach Boulevard. The bus system could get the headways down to 10-15 minutes and would schedule all suburban commuter routes to hub out of Jacksonville Terminal. BRT/Bus stations on these roads would include bicycle/pedestrian overpasses at places like Arlingwood/Arlington expy, or townsend/arlington expy, so they would not only be friendly by shortening the drive time to downtown, with a neighborhood park and ride concept , they would be VERY pedestrian and cyclist friendly stations.
(http://www.gotimelines.com/Websites/gotimeslines/PhotoGallery/283106%5CTime%20Lines%20Interior%202.jpg)
Lastly we would replace the longer distance suburban commuter buses, with commuter coaches, these unique motor coaches would feature:
State of the art Clean Air powered transportation
Customized first-class interiors
WIFI technology to allow wireless activity on vehicles
Tables and airline tray tables to allow lap tops
Power ports throughout the vehicles to charge phones and laptops
4 flat screen LCD monitors for presentations
CD and DVD high-end stereo media system
Leatherette seating
Coffee dispenser and entertainment centers
Pull down sunshades for working convenience
restrooms
No longer would getting to Fidelity or Wells Fargo in the early AM be wasted time, rather, it would make every coach into an extended office. In short, a very comfortable executive coach, available to all, in place of rolling cattle cars.
QuoteThere are around 43,000 parking spaces in the downtown and around core mostly in garages including about 4,500 meters, both public and private. Assess a tax on garage parking that would equal the revenue coming in from today's metered parking - balanced by city/county wide citations for illegal parking, thus no revenues would be lost. Further a system would be in place to encourage the use of transit by making it more comfortable or productive and less expensive. The combination of parking-transit balance would give people an alternative to the old long commute and steep price for dedicated parking. Next step, ELIMINATE the meters, give them to Orlando! (Anything I can do to help them out.)
So what happens to the downtown parking spots that have meters? Free parking? I'm all for free parking downtown. Would be nice to see the City ticket around town for parking violations, especially in Avondale. We could use the Code Enforcement clowns to write parking tickets, why not? All they do is drive around all day and try and write tickets anyway. Put them in a Yellow shirt and have them become ticket maids.
Have you guys ever been in a van with a couple of parents and screaming kids who live in someplace like Nocatee before? Don't you want them to come visit downtown more often? No, they are not going to spend all day driving around downtown looking for a parking spot. They also are not going to figure out how to parallel park their large SUV's. If you don't get them visiting downtown more often, you just lost the vast majority of people who live in Duval county and I'm don't think you can revive downtown without their support.
If you really want to see how devastating expensive downtown parking is to an event, try this as an experiment. I propose that the ArtWalk give up it's FREE Parking Garage and start charging $10 as a special event parking.
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 01:47:19 PM
Have you guys ever been in a van with a couple of parents and screaming kids who live in someplace like Nocatee before? Don't you want them to come visit downtown more often? No, they are not going to spend all day driving around downtown looking for a parking spot. They also are not going to figure out how to parallel park their large SUV's. If you don't get them visiting downtown more often, you just lost the vast majority of people who live in Duval county and I'm don't think you can revive downtown without their support.
If you really want to see how devastating expensive downtown parking is to an event, try this as an experiment. I propose that the ArtWalk give up it's FREE Parking Garage and start charging $10 as a special event parking.
If $10 is too much, and parallel parking too difficult, and walking is out of the question, perhaps they are better off in Nocatee or SJTC... after all... city life aint for everyone...
Art Walk has a free parking garage? i never knew!
As of a couple of months ago, it cost $1.75 to park at a meter almost everywhere in the metro Washington DC area until at least 7:00pm, Monday-Saturday, where the only parking options are metered parking and parking garages. I love life in Jacksonville!
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 01:47:19 PM
Have you guys ever been in a van with a couple of parents and screaming kids who live in someplace like Nocatee before? Don't you want them to come visit downtown more often? No, they are not going to spend all day driving around downtown looking for a parking spot. They also are not going to figure out how to parallel park their large SUV's.
I'm not in the norm in my thinking here, but I'd say it's a mistake to plan downtown for special events to attract suburbanites periodically at the expense of making it a 24/7 self sustaining urban community. With that said, if you allow for a self sustaining urban community to develop, it will attract suburbanites because of it becoming a vibrant unique atmosphere by being an actual livable mixed use pedestrian scale neighborhood. Under this scenario (I'm looking five to ten years out), the five or six times the Nocatee soccer mom decides to visit downtown, they can leave their SUV at the nearest park & ride lot and take the train, BRT, or the skyway in.
QuoteIf you don't get them visiting downtown more often, you just lost the vast majority of people who live in Duval county and I'm don't think you can revive downtown without their support.
I believe downtown will be just fine if we simply go easy on many of the regulations and get out the way. I don't believe it needs high support by people living 20 miles out to be revived unless the goal is to get them to pay for necessary improvements (which I don't think they should have too).
QuoteIf you really want to see how devastating expensive downtown parking is to an event, try this as an experiment. I propose that the ArtWalk give up it's FREE Parking Garage and start charging $10 as a special event parking.
Where is the free parking garage for ArtWalk located? Is it city or privately owned?
Quote from: thelakelander on March 29, 2012, 02:43:59 PM
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 01:47:19 PM
Have you guys ever been in a van with a couple of parents and screaming kids who live in someplace like Nocatee before? Don't you want them to come visit downtown more often? No, they are not going to spend all day driving around downtown looking for a parking spot. They also are not going to figure out how to parallel park their large SUV's.
I'm not in the norm in my thinking here, but I'd say it's a mistake to plan downtown for special events to attract suburbanites periodically at the expense of making it a 24/7 self sustaining urban community. With that said, if you allow for a self sustaining urban community to develop, it will attract suburbanites because of it becoming a vibrant unique atmosphere by being an actual livable mixed use pedestrian scale neighborhood. Under this scenario (I'm looking five to ten years out), the five or six times the Nocatee soccer mom decides to visit downtown, they can leave their SUV at the nearest park & ride lot and take the train, BRT, or the skyway in.
I have similar long term ideals. In the short term, since we have empty space in downtown. Bringing people into those lots can be a bridge for a more busy downtown. Once those lots start filling to capacity, then we'll have a very good reason to transition to a park-n-ride system.
QuoteI believe downtown will be just fine if we simply go easy on many of the regulations and get out the way. I don't believe it needs high support by people living 20 miles out to be revived unless the goal is to get them to pay for necessary improvements (which I don't think they should have too).
The people in the suburbs owns several city council seats as well as greater voting number over the At-Large seats. They also will also have to pay for the vast majority of upgrades such as the proposed rail system. They control policy as well as the budget.
QuoteWhere is the free parking garage for ArtWalk located? Is it city or privately owned?
http://downtownjacksonville.org/Libraries/PDF_Libraries/DVI_Artwalk_Flyer_April_2.sflb.ashx
While not in downtown, the Riverside Arts Market is another example. Imagine what attendance would be like if Fidelity started charging $10 for parking instead of generously donating their parking garage. It could work for a once a year special event but it would be suicidal for a weekly community event.
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 03:48:52 PM
I have similar long term ideals. In the short term, since we have empty space in downtown. Bringing people into those lots can be a bridge for a more busy downtown. Once those lots start filling to capacity, then we'll have a very good reason to transition to a park-n-ride system.
In the short term, you can't worry about attracting suburbanites. You've got to get the basics right first. I feel we continue to try to hit grand slams instead of learning how to swing and run to first base initially.
QuoteQuoteI believe downtown will be just fine if we simply go easy on many of the regulations and get out the way. I don't believe it needs high support by people living 20 miles out to be revived unless the goal is to get them to pay for necessary improvements (which I don't think they should have too).
The people in the suburbs owns several city council seats as well as greater voting number over the At-Large seats. They also will also have to pay for the vast majority of upgrades such as the proposed rail system. They control policy as well as the budget.
DT's success and failures are based more on over regulation and COJ keeping their hands in the cookie jar than general budget. Also, we can get rail into downtown without suburban dollars and I'd actually encourage us to take those routes initially. The routes I'm referring to are the mobility fee funded initial transit projects and the FEC intercity rail projects. Advocate to get these up and running first so locals can experience what rail brings before asking them to raise taxes to pay for a more extensive project.
QuoteQuoteWhere is the free parking garage for ArtWalk located? Is it city or privately owned?
http://downtownjacksonville.org/Libraries/PDF_Libraries/DVI_Artwalk_Flyer_April_2.sflb.ashx
While not in downtown, the Riverside Arts Market is another example. Imagine what attendance would be like if Fidelity started charging $10 for parking instead of generously donating their parking garage. It could work for a once a year special event but it would be suicidal for a weekly community event.
[/quote]
Wow. You learn something new every day. I had no idea they were allowing free garage parking for Art Walk. Makes you wonder. If the parking situation isn't a negative issue for downtown, then why advertise free parking for Art Walk?
http://www.urbancincy.com/2012/03/parking-mandates-stymy-development-in-cincinnatis-urban-neighborhoods/
An interesting article about how parking regulations are a hindrance to downtown redevelopment in Cincinnati. It sounds like too much parking is the problem there. An interesting quote from the article: "Requiring parking for historic structures that have never had parking is incentivizing their demolition." I'm not smart on why there are so many vacant lots in downtown Jax, but it certainly seems like there are more parking garages than historic buildings.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 29, 2012, 04:27:10 PM
DT's success and failures are based more on over regulation and COJ keeping their hands in the cookie jar than general budget. Also, we can get rail into downtown without suburban dollars and I'd actually encourage us to take those routes initially. The routes I'm referring to are the mobility fee funded initial transit projects and the FEC intercity rail projects. Advocate to get these up and running first so locals can experience what rail brings before asking them to raise taxes to pay for a more extensive project.
Grand slams won't happen without the support of the suburban residents nor can they be reached without their support. Downtown is not a bubble.
Unless I'm reading this article incorrectly http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-oct-city-council-prepares-to-halt-mobility-fee, that mobility fee almost got shot down by the city council. The suburbs will indirectly be paying these fees (unless limited to only downtown construction) so it's their money is being used. They will also be liable for any lawsuits. Any approved rail route is going to bring even more politics that will drag them in.
The people who live in the suburbs are not hostile to downtown. Treating them like an enemy or a big walking wallet will get downtown nowhere fast. They want to support downtown but they are not willing to add more stress in their daily lives to support it.
Downtown parking today is stressful, confusing, and expensive to the vast majority of people living in this city.
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 05:33:44 PM
Grand slams won't happen without the support of the suburban residents nor can they be reached without their support. Downtown is not a bubble.
^My point is that the focus should not be on grand slams. Downtown is not a bubble. It's an urban neighborhood. It should be treated as such, so livability should be of greater concern initially. Get the basics of urban quality of life right before catering to suburbanites or asking them for their money. When you begin to cater to suburbanites, you open yourself up to a general mindset that doesn't align with the basic underlying elements needed to create a successful pedestrian scaled atmosphere.
QuoteUnless I'm reading this article incorrectly http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-oct-city-council-prepares-to-halt-mobility-fee, that mobility fee almost got shot down by the city council. The suburbs will indirectly be paying these fees (unless limited to only downtown construction) so it's their money is being used. They will also be liable for any lawsuits. Any approved rail route is going to bring even more politics that will drag them in.
You're reading it incorrectly. With the mobility fee, the city is divided into ten development zones. New development within each zone would pay a transportation impact fee that would be used to fund a project intended to alleviate the negative impact that project would put on infrastructure within that particular zone. If you're not developing a new project, you won't be subject to this one time fee, regardless of where you stay (burbs, country, or inner city). In essence, you really don't need the support of any individual taxpayer for these projects since they aren't funded by them. It's an innovative way of paying for public infrastructure. Although we decided to not collect the fee this year, several cities are copying the concept we developed and approved last year.
QuoteThe people who live in the suburbs are not hostile to downtown. Treating them like an enemy or a big walking wallet will get downtown nowhere fast. They want to support downtown but they are not willing to add more stress in their daily lives to support it.
This isn't about treating someone like an enemy. My point is focusing more on initially getting the basic components of a viable livable downtown in place first. If you don't do that, you're underlying causes for complete failure are still in place and it won't matter how much money you burn on it.
QuoteDowntown parking today is stressful, confusing, and expensive to the vast majority of people living in this city.
It certainly is. Something needs to be done but I'm not sold that the parking problem is special event rates on private lots.
QuoteGet the basics of urban quality of life right before catering to suburbanites or asking them for their money.
That's a very big political door your opening. It's like your saying to the suburbanites that their opinions don't matter and your going to do whatever you want with downtown.
Quote
You're reading it incorrectly. With the mobility fee, the city is divided into ten development zones. New development within each zone would pay a transportation impact fee that would be used to fund a project intended to alleviate the negative impact that project would put on infrastructure within that particular zone. If you're not developing a new project, you won't be subject to this one time fee, regardless of where you stay (burbs, country, or inner city). In essence, you really don't need the support of any individual taxpayer for these projects since they aren't funded by them. It's an innovative way of paying for public infrastructure. Although we decided to not collect the fee this year, several cities are copying the concept we developed and approved last year.
Are you sure this isn't a hidden tax that the developer will eventually pass on to the end buyer? Unless our developers are very altruistic, it don't sound like they are willing to pay it out of their profits. How does this prevent downtown zone from taking funds from the southside zone? What happens if one of the zone's transit project goes bankrupt? Who pays?
QuoteIt certainly is. Something needs to be done but I'm not sold that the parking problem is special event rates on private lots.
I disagree. It's downtown's first and last impression to most people. It's also a very bad impression. Fixing it is the first step towards making downtown more friendly. Even if we get nothing else, the spectacular river view from downtown is a wonderful gift from mother nature that I hope a few will enjoy at least once a week.
Quote from: cityimrov on March 29, 2012, 07:16:40 PM
QuoteGet the basics of urban quality of life right before catering to suburbanites or asking them for their money.
That's a very big political door your opening. It's like your saying to the suburbanites that their opinions don't matter and your going to do whatever you want with downtown.
[/quote]
I think you're taking what I'm saying the wrong way. I'm talking about modifying bad policies to allow for downtown to become a self sustaining neighborhood to naturally generate the activity everyone wants to see....without spending excessive money on gimmicks that clearly have not worked in the last 50 years. I simply don't understand why one would need the support of the county, as a whole, to change policies currently restricting downtown. Seriously, do we need to get the Bartram Park guy's approval to make sure buildings in downtown interact with the street, that downtown parks are properly maintained or to make sure that mass transit effectively connects downtown with the surrounding urban core neighborhoods? These are the types of things I'm talking about that I do not believe the support of the suburbs is needed to make happen. These are the types of things that when in place, that naturally lead to the end product that people expect and want to see.
QuoteAre you sure this isn't a hidden tax that the developer will eventually pass on to the end buyer? Unless our developers are very altruistic, it don't sound like they are willing to pay it out of their profits.
It's not a tax, its an impact fee. If you buy into a new development, the addition auto trips you generate from that development on existing infrastructure is the negative impact that is being mitigated by the impact fee. If you don't pay for what you negatively impact, then you're placing that obligation on the general taxpayers. Currently, the buck has been passed with decades of our ponzi scheme styled development pattern. It's the primary reason why this city is broke today. The mobility fee and plan was intended to help make us fiscally stable while improving our quality of life.
QuoteHow does this prevent downtown zone from taking funds from the southside zone?
Downtown projects would be funded by development within downtown. Southside projects would be funded by development within the Southside's zone. The purpose of having mobility zones was to make sure that money generated in one section of town wasn't being spent in another section. For the past half century, tax money generated in downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods has been funneled to fund growth in outlying areas, at their economic expense. Now we're getting around to leveling the playing field.
QuoteWhat happens if one of the zone's transit project goes bankrupt? Who pays?
Probably the same thing that happens if a road project in a suburban zone goes bankrupt. They are essentially funded the same way, expect that the two priority transit projects are significantly cheaper than the eight priority road projects. Neverthless, projects would be built when proper funding is in place.
QuoteQuoteIt certainly is. Something needs to be done but I'm not sold that the parking problem is special event rates on private lots.
I disagree. It's downtown's first and last impression to most people. It's also a very bad impression. Fixing it is the first step towards making downtown more friendly. Even if we get nothing else, the spectacular river view from downtown is a wonderful gift from mother nature that I hope a few will enjoy at least once a week.
You're ignoring the +50,000 people down here everyday and the additional +100,000 that live within a three mile radius of it. The first step is shoring up the environment for the residents who call this section their home. The vibe that creates generates the thing that attracts tourist. We can't treat downtown like a theme park. It's a community just like any other in this city. It just happens to be more mixed use and pedestrian scale.