Comments on: Park Commission OKs Fee Increases, Budget

By: Cathy Antonakos

Cathy Antonakos — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:18:02 +0000

I agree with the suggestion that the University use its own land for the parking structure, rather than the City’s parkland. Since the University recently acquired the Pfizer property, that should open up new possibilities for park-and-ride facilities, and for relocation of offices to the Pfizer property that are now located in congested areas around the central campus and medical center. Those possibilities are probably less expensive for the University, as compared to construction of another parking structure. I believe the University is still soliciting ideas for use of the Pfizer property from members of the University community, so it is not set in stone what those facilities will be used for.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:46:41 +0000

Bonnie, thanks for pointing that out – and for the additional information. The misspelling has been fixed.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:28:27 +0000

Just a quick clarification- “Berhshire Creek Nature area” is actually “Berkshire” (it’s the nature area just north of the Whole Foods/Barnes & Noble off of Huron Parkway), and George Washington Park is often colloquially referred to as “The Rock.” :)

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:21:34 +0000

Thanks, Steve – you’re right. I’ve corrected the text.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:51:38 +0000

Mary, I think that you meant that the land acquisition millage funds have been used to purchase only 39 acres of natural areas in the city, while the city has over 1,200 acres of natural areas in total.

By: Jack Eaton

Jack Eaton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:49:13 +0000

Ms. Nystuen is to be commended on pressing the Fuller Road parking structure issue. That property is parkland. The apparent intent to grant a 20 year lease is the equivalent of a sale, for which the City Charter requires a vote of residents for approval.

The Fuller Road parking structure threatens to establish a dangerous precedent for diverting parkland to other uses through leases rather sales. This same issue underlies the Huron Hills Golf Course RFP. There, the City intends to enter into a 20 year lease that would allow a private entity to develop a driving course and other related commercial uses on City parkland.

I hope that Ms. Nystuen is successful in getting the PAC to take a position on this method of re-purposing parkland.