Comments on: DDA Parking Data: Better, Faster, Stronger?

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:42:37 +0000

@5: It’s not unaccountable. The mayor appoints and serves on the board. Whether it’s a boondoggle is debatable.

By: Observatory

Observatory — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:10:53 +0000

It’s an unaccountable hijacking boondoggle and a scourge on the good citizens of Pleasantville. And we’re getting restless.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:43:06 +0000

@3: Because residents are irrelevant, especially if they don’t go (or live) downtown. Keep in mind that the DDA is not our elected city council. In that sense, there’s no disconnect–it’s never been about more parking. It’s about a lively downtown for people with money to spend.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:33:59 +0000

Am I the only one who sees a disconnect between the policy of allowing developers to purchase in-lieu parking, the max-out of the system on at least one busy night, and the plans to remove several open lots from the parking system? Meanwhile, the rates keep going up.

Frankly, I have simply given up going downtown for most events because of the difficulty in parking. I would take the bus, but my route does not have evening and weekend hours. I’m a little too far (about 2 miles) to walk for entertainment or for dinner.

I doubt most residents are perceiving an excess of parking spaces. So why are we getting rid of them?

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:31:04 +0000

“The statements include total net assets of $8,767,926 – nearly a $1 million increase over the previous year.”

Dave, do you know how the DDA has those funds invested? If they’re not properly protected (preferably in cash at a sound bank or in short-term US treasuries), they could take a drastic hit in the coming downturn.

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:54:53 +0000

Before embarking on high-cost, high-visibility, low-benefit projects like bike lockers and bike sharing, I wish the DDA would give us the basics. Bicycle parking in the downtown area is laughably inadequate and getting worse. The parking structures each have only half a dozen or so bike parking spaces compared to hundreds of car parking spaces. Many of the spaces are unusable due to poor design, like the ones at Fourth & William that are not on level ground, or the ones at Maynard that are too close together, too close to surrounding obstructions, and always full of abandoned bikes. City Hall used to have a couple dozen covered spaces right by the front door. Now it’s only got a few spaces, and they are not adequately covered.

We also continue to require landlords to supply car parking, but not bike parking. Yes I know there’s a law, but for some reason it’s been ineffective.

A bike sharing program is good for headlines. Providing good bike parking doesn’t get headlines, it just benefits ordinary people who want to bike to work. It seems to me the DDA is more concerned with appearances than actually doing good.