PiPress: Parking is Sticking Point for Central Corridor
There seems to be a real conflict between planners and business owners along University Avenue about the need for parking along the University Avenue strip. Planners argue that there's plenty of parking, but business owners want parking lots directly next to, or in front of their businesses.
Still, Baenen called the parking lost as a result of the project "really a drop in the bucket" given the 20,000 off-street parking spots on side streets.
"That's really been lost" in the debate, she said. "People aren't looking at that."
But for Ahvo Taipale, owner of Finn Sisu, a cross country ski supply store between Dewey Street and Fairview Avenue on University, parking is everything.
"It is very tough to find enough parking if all the parking on University is gone," he said. "Today's customer is not willing to walk that far."
For his business, Taipale said, most of his customers come from the suburbs, which means they expect to be able to park close by.
Lost in the debate is the real issue -- will Twin Cities' residents (Twin Citizens?) be wiling to walk a little ways to do their shopping, or to get to and from the rail stations?
Building a walkable University Avenue will surely mean a compromise, but will shoppers and business owners be willing to let go of big storefront parking lots?
You can comment on the need for parking at:
The Central Corridor LRT Project Office at 651-602-1645.
Jake Grovum can be reached at 651-228-5480.
Aug. 7, Brian Coyle Center, 420 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Aug. 9, Goodwill Easter Seals, 553 N. Fairview Ave., St. Paul
Plenty of parking in the Midway
The midway area has many many more parking spaces than Lake street. Business goes on as usual. The large asphalt sea fronting the Midway Center is more than enough parking for the district. Its funny how Minnesotans have no clue about walking. Some of the fat would come off if some of these lazy people would walk a few blocks. Its not that difficult.
Leave the car at home and ride the rails. Its fun and you don't have to worry about parking and leaving your car for some thief to break into.
But, on-street parking provides other benefits to public space
I agree that most folks need to drive less and need to walk and use transit more, but on-street parking offers many benefits to the public realm that have nothing to do with driving private motor vehicles.
1. On street parking provides a buffer zone between pedestrians and general traffic lanes creating space on sidewalks much more hospitable to walking, talking and relaxing at sidewalk cafes.
2. On street parking provides a traffic calming effect by providing a narrower space through which motorists much navigate their vehicles. This leads to slower speeds, more attentive motorists and fewer collisions and conflicts. In short, a more pleasant and inviting place for pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. The local business community wants on-street parking. Why would we want to create more opposition to a much need improvement in our transit system instead of aligning with local business leaders and instead demanding that space be taken away from general auto traffic? The current proposed configuration for University Avenue wastes far too much space on the single goal of moving too many motor vehicles when we should be encouraging and enabling more transit use, more biking and more walking. See this post for more details on this subject >.
4. The large surface parking lots on University Avenue today are a drain on the city's and the neighborhood's resources as they generate little to no tax revenue and create large, desolate areas that pedestrians need to traverse in order to reach their destinations. This vastly under-utilized land will be filled with higher intensity uses which can lead to a more vibrant and safe neighborhood while generating more revenue for the city and surrounding communities.
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