As I read the above linked Toledo Blade article, several questions immediately came to mind. This plan will create 18 parking spaces, now taking part of what was stated in the article:
The Mills family trust, owners of the block-long, 19th century Fort Industry Square brick structure across Summit from SeaGate Centre, has had trouble filling retail space for several years. Its biggest obstacle: no curbside parking in front of the development, which is 60 percent vacant.
"We're talking about adding curbside parking so we can market the building and concentrate on retail and resale shops, or where people can stop and get a quick bite to eat," said Matthew Mills, the building manager.
Without even getting into the financial aspect of what these Summit Street improvements would cost. Adding 18 parking spaces isn't going to dramatically improve desire to shop or to eat, except for perhaps 18 cars. Where are all the rest of them going to have to park? Where they currently have to park which according to Matthew Mills, parking alone wasn't the only reason they lost tenants.
Then, this next part made me think:
Left-turn lanes, originally created to get vehicles out of the flow of traffic while they wait to make turns across Summit, would be removed and replaced with raised medians with plants and greenery like that added recently to Cherry Street.
Wouldn't that make traffic even worse after a large downtown event? Sure, it will look pretty as you sit there and wait but creating more traffic flow problems especially when there is still talk about building an arena downtown just doesn't make sense, especially to only gain 18 parking spaces...
Murphy's Place Jazz is on the web, they are mentioned in the Toledo Blade article.
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6 comments:
I made the mistake of parking at the basement of the Seagate center for the Irish festival. (I thought it was at Prominade Park, it turned out to be at International Park)
Anywho, this was just as the Jahovah's Witnesses meeting was adjourning and it took me 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot and over the bridge to pick up my girlfriend.
Imagine how much worse that would have been without the middle lane to sneak into?
Great blog, Lisa!
Listen, I've taken some courses on Urban Development and the fact of the matter is, roads and their relationship to traffic still has not been defined in almost 100 years of study.
What we found in New York was that the more roads, the more we widened the roads, and the more bridges we built, the traffic just got worse every time.
The theory is that the more road you build, the heavier the traffic there will become. When the roads are narrow (i.e. Secor south of Central), people will try to avoid them in lieu of another route. When you build a wider road or a new road, the traffic will eventually (within a year) just fill it to the same relative capacity as it was originally and deteriorate from there.
Love the blog, Lisa. Kudos!
I don't see the logic in spending over $300,000 with only 18 parking spaces and the addition of some plants as a huge benefit.
To me only 18 spaces isn't going to be a real solution to people not being able to park infront of the building.
It doesn't seem cost effective as to the benefit of the 18 spaces versus the price.
I manage the Fort Industry Square building and we have been struggling with parking around the building for years. The fact of the matter is that Toledoians do not want to walk. If you can't drive right up to your destination and walk ten steps they won't come. If they have to pay Rue park $3 whether you park for 15 minutes or all day, they won't come. The idea of revamping Summit St. would hopefully slow down traffic and increase the walking traffic infront of our building. Due to a sprinkler head bursting in late 2004 our building is only 305 occupied, with nearly 10,000sqft of space vacant on Summit St alone. We have had retail investors interested but have back away because of lack of exposure that curb side parking will bring to the building. Our building is beautiful and should be a focal point for downtown. I commend the mayor for helping us make this building a proud landmark for the whole city to enjoy!
Steve
Steve, thank you for commenting. I just don't understand how 18 parking spaces is going to be a huge help given as you stated people don't want to walk. Especially if the projected cost is what it was stated. Only 18 people at a time will be able to avoid the three dollar parking charge. For you to attract what the Blade article describes that doesn't seem like it's going to be enough. Isn't there a way if the parking fee is an issue to make some type of deal with the parking lot owner or perhaps with tenants so that they can offer some type of "first half hour free" parking promotion that might encourage people to walk?
I am all for encouraging local business to survive, I just have questions on this one as far as the cost versus the benefit. That's where I am coming from on this, I'm not against Fort Industry Square attracting more retail or eateries.
I was just in Toledo for a convention and stayed across the street from Fort Industry Square. Being a fan of architecture, I found my way inside. This is an amazing building with incredible iron, brick, and glass work.It truly saddend me to see how empty it was. However, not only was Fort Industry empty, but it seemed like three fourths of all the buildings I passed had for lease signs on them. I was also amazed by how few people there are downtown when there isn't a convention or a Hens game. Most of downtown Toledo looked like a ghost town and for such a beautiful place it was sad to see. I hope that the locals who have been arguing against the parking situation in front of the building would realize that growth is a slow process. Eighteen new parking spaces here, a dozen or so there and all of a sudden you have a destination area for not just locals, but visitors as well.
To argue against more parking and better business opportunity is to argue for recession and the collapse of a beautiful city.
Stay classy Toledo.
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