additional parking

Proposed hospital car park would create green space and ease access – The Daily Gazette

by Deena S. Hawkins on February 9, 2022

SCHENECTADY — A new eight-story parking structure proposed by Ellis Medicine along Nott and Ulster streets would not only increase parking capacity but also eliminate longstanding confusion that has existed on campus for years, officials said Tuesday. hospital officials in a virtual community meeting.

The hospital is looking to demolish its 700-space, four-level parking garage that was built more than 40 years ago to make way for an eight-story structure that can accommodate up to 1,200 vehicles. The hospital has outgrown the current structure, which requires thousands of dollars in annual maintenance costs.

Plans for the new structure will be reviewed by the city’s Planning Commission on February 16.

But before meeting with the commission, a number of hospital officials, including President and CEO Paul Milton, joined members of the structure’s design team to brief the community on the proposed plans, answer any questions and gather additional feedback on the plans.

“Time is up for the current Nott Street Garage. It’s old,” Milton said. “With our commitment and our mission of what we do, we need to make sure we have good access and a safe way for everyone to approach the hospital.”

A dozen residents attended the meeting, most of whom remained silent during a question-and-answer period. Those who spoke appeared to approve of the proposal and were primarily concerned about the timing of the project and its potential impact on local traffic.

The new structure, expected to cost $30 million, will have the same facade as the hospital’s Rosa Road parking garage and would be located in the same area as the existing structure.

But the new garage would have a reduced footprint of around 45 feet to ensure the remains of the current structure are entirely removed from the site. The narrower structure will create room for additional green space along Ulster Street that will beautify the area and help reduce stormwater runoff, according to David Vander Wal, senior vice president of Walker Consultants, an engineering firm. engineering specializing in parking structures.

The structure would be precast offsite using concrete and will stand six to seven stories high when fully assembled. The assembly will be done in phases using a crane, according to Vander Wal.

Construction plan

The goal is to begin demolishing the existing structure this summer after obtaining the necessary approvals and securing funding for the project. Ellis received a $2 million state grant for the project and expects the savings on maintenance costs to help offset remaining costs.

The project should last around 16 months. The hospital said the savings in maintenance costs and shuttle services will offset the remaining costs of the project.

Currently, hospital employees must use a shuttle service to get to work due to a lack of on-site parking. The hospital is in the process of securing additional parking for the start of construction, but current plans include expanding the use of Hillside Avenue for employee parking and providing enhanced valet parking for patients. and visitors, according to Mark Mesick, the hospital’s chief financial officer. .

It is estimated that 20 lorries would cross Ulster Street each day during assembly, the equivalent of around three lorries per hour during an eight-hour working day. The road will remain open during construction.

“Once they’ve made 80 percent of the parts, they’ll start erecting the prefab,” Vander Wal said. “It will go from a hole in the ground with footings to a fairly complete building in about two to three months.”

Milton said the hospital administration is working closely with the Schenectady City School District to ensure minimal disruption to students at Oneida Middle School, which is directly across from the site of proposed construction.

“Access and security are very important to us. We are very sensitive to being next to school here with children running around,” he said. “We are working with the school system on this project to make sure it is safe in the future.”

Karen Corona, a school district spokeswoman, confirmed the hospital has been in contact.

The new structure will include three tunnels, including an exit and entrance along Ulster Street and an entrance on Nott Street.

According to Daria Mallin, president of Envision Architect, an Albany-based design firm working on the project.

“We are raising the floor … to allow you to enter at the same level compared to A1, the first floor of the hospital, to obtain this continuity, to again reduce the stress of the experience of arriving on campus” , she said.

Milton said the hospital will work to notify the community of any changes once the project has obtained the necessary approvals and plans for parking and construction are finalized.

Contact journalist Chad Arnold at: 518-410-5117 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @ChadGArnold.

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Categories: News, Schenectady County

Parking garage

SEPTA will build a car park near Conshohocken station

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 28, 2022

The Borough of Conshohocken announced today that SEPTA is committed to moving forward with Phase II improvement plans at Conshohocken Station

The Phase I plan is to build a new station just over Oak Street, which is just uphill from its current location. A vehicular/pedestrian crossing at Oak Street is also added.

The Phase II commitment includes the construction of a 3-level parking garage for the station, in addition to surface parking. In Phase II, the surface parking lot and garage will create 534 parking spaces. The garage will also include ADA-accessible parking and two ground floor elevators. No timeline was included in the announcement. You can consult a document on the car park here.

The garage will be built to allow for future expansion of two additional parking levels and with infrastructure to support the potential future installation of electric vehicle charging spaces.

On this section of the waterfront (above the bridge), there are currently three apartment buildings under construction. Closest to the bridge is unit 304 The Birch at 51 Washington (expected to be completed in fall 2022). Just upriver and adjacent to The Birch is the 276-unit Matson Mill community (expected to be completed in fall 2022). Just across the river along West Elm Street is unit 348,400 West Em Street (expected to be completed in fall 2023).

Image: SEPTA

Parking garage

Application for new St. Jude parking garage denied – FOX13 News Memphis

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 27, 2022

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – A request from ALSAC, the fundraising and outreach organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to build a controversial new seven-story parking lot on the northeast corner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. ‘AW Willis and of Third St. was refused.

The Memphis Shelby County Board of Adjustment vote came Wednesday afternoon, dashing ALSAC’s hopes for the structure.

ALSAC sent FOX13 the following statement, indicating that they will continue to work on parking arrangements for a growing workforce.

“We appreciate that the Board of Adjustment is evaluating our proposal today, although we are disappointed with the outcome as it may negatively impact our planned missionary expansion. We will continue to explore our options to expand our campus, including returning to the adjustment board in a timely manner as we have major new construction planned on the west side of campus and the Pinch District and require additional parking to accommodate our growing workforce. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and ALSAC, the fundraising and outreach organization for St. Jude, have created more than 1,200 jobs over the past six years and will likely create about 1,800 more jobs in the over the next six years. This growth will allow us to advance research and life-saving treatments for children around the world and continue to create new opportunities. local investment and employment units.

The decision to deny the new parking garage, which would have approximately 1,500 parking spaces, comes after residents of the Greenlaw and Uptown communities voiced their opposition to the construction of the seven-story garage.

RELATED: Residents voice opposition to proposed parking lot near St. Jude

These community members said the garage would go against the Memphis 3.0 plan developed by St. Jude, the City of Memphis and residents, that the garage would disrupt the beautiful green space in the community where the garage was to be built. and that it would serve traffic better to build it on Danny Thomas where it was originally planned to go.

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Parking garage

Proposal Denied for St. Jude Parking Lot

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 26, 2022

Neighbors objected to the planned structure, citing traffic hazards on nearby residential streets, but St. Jude said it needed parking for future employees.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – New parking for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the Uptown neighborhood will have to wait.

The Memphis-Shelby County Board of Adjustment rejected the latest proposal.

Neighbors objected to the planned structure, citing traffic hazards on nearby residential streets, but St. Jude said it needed parking for future employees.

St. Jude, however, is not giving up. A spokeswoman said the proposal rejected on Wednesday had already been revised, addressing concerns from neighbors.

You can read the full statement from ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, below:

“We appreciate that the Board of Adjustment is evaluating our proposal today, although we are disappointed with the outcome as it may negatively impact our planned missionary expansion. We will continue to explore our options to expand our campus, including the return to the Board of Adjustment at the appropriate time, as we have planned major new construction on the west side of campus and the Pinch District and require additional parking to accommodate our growing staff. St. Jude and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, have created more than 1,200 jobs over the past six years, and likely about 1,800 more jobs over the next six years. growth will allow us to advance research and life-saving treatments for children around the world and continue to create new opportunities locally es of investment and employment.”

Parks Not Parking 901 released the following statement on the decision:

“Residents and supporters of Greenlaw/Uptown applaud yesterday’s decision by the Board of Adjustment to reject ALSAC/St. Jude’s proposed plan to build a 7-level parking lot on green space in our neighborhood. Thanks to this advice for listening to our concerns and setting high expectations for how organizations should engage with community stakeholders when developing large-scale plans that impact quality of life and means livelihood of thousands of people in the city every day. We also expect ALSAC/St. Jude to consider a more thoughtful approach to its growth that will improve both the campus and the surrounding communities.

Parking spaces

Work begins to increase parking spaces at Radcliffe Metrolink station

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 25, 2022

Commuters at Radcliffe Metrolink station are warned that the car park is closed because

A new temporary car park has been opened nearby.

It comes as the car park at Whitefield Metrolink station reopens after creating an additional 120 spaces.

Radcliffe will be closed to users other than blue badge holders following the last tram departure yesterday and work to install a new car park, increasing capacity from 369 to 480 spaces, is expected to be completed by summer 2022.

The drop zone will remain open at Radcliffe and blue badge spaces will still be available at this facility during construction.

Other motorists will be redirected to the temporary 250-space site, already set up above the road and accessible via Spring Lane.

Chris Barnes, Projects Group Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “We are delighted to have completed the work required to provide 123 additional parking spaces at the Whitefield Metrolink stop. This additional capacity will allow more people to access the Metrolink network and use public transport as part of their overall journey.

“We are also very pleased to continue the ongoing Park & Ride expansion work at the Radcliffe stop. The preparatory operations that we have undertaken so far have gone well and we now look forward to taking the work forward in earnest, after the closure of the main facility.

“We ask anyone wishing to park near the Radcliffe stop to proceed to the alternative site opposite the entrance to the existing Radcliffe Park & Ride facility for the duration of the construction work.” For more information regarding the car park expansion works, please visit the TfGM website at: www.tfgm.com/mcip

Parking spaces

Clemson imposes new 15-minute parking spots downtown

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 14, 2022

By Greg Oliver

The newspaper

CLEMSON — Earlier this week, the city of Clemson reinstated all of its parking regulations that had been suspended for much of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Street parking, which had been extended from one hour to two hours, with all paid parking in garages free, is now limited to one hour, and those parking in city center car parks will be required to supply the meter .

A new parking sign in downtown Clemson tells visitors they can only stay 15 minutes.
EMILIE WILSON | THE NEWSPAPER

But the city also reminded residents to be on the lookout for new 15-minute street parking spots for anyone doing quick tasks, such as picking up orders. These spaces, all clearly marked with a sign in front of the space, were approved by Clemson City Council last year on the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee.

The resolution states that spaces will be permanently designated for 15-minute parking on a first-come, first-served basis 24 hours a day, with none to be used exclusively by a business or businesses or their suppliers, carriers, employees and / or customers. Rideshare drivers cannot perform pick-up and drop-off using the designated 15-minute parking spots or use the staging or waiting spaces.

The city’s community and economic development co-ordinator Lindsey Newton, who presented the resolution to council, said the spaces “give people access to downtown businesses, especially in a faster way.”

“Thanks to COVID, business models have fundamentally changed,” Newton said. “A year ago the curbside and curbside service – almost no one was offering it. I don’t think it was a problem a year and a half ago, but I don’t think it will change.

City Administrator Andy Blondeau said the city should probably consider hiring an additional parking attendant because of the change, as well as the new hotel being built downtown. Newton said the cost of an additional officer could come from revenue if metered parking spaces are placed downtown.

Newton said there are businesses along College Avenue and on Earle Street, North Clemson Avenue and Sloan Street “who want central space for their businesses.”

“They want it where their customers, their clients, their bosses, grab what they need and walk away,” she said.

Advice on new parking spaces

Councilor Catherine Watt said she felt the recommendation “is definitely reasonable”.

“I know older people who would love to have something downtown and don’t walk at the same pace as you or me, and they would definitely love to have those spaces,” Watt said.

Councilwoman Alesia Smith said adding 15-minute parking spaces “is a good idea.”

“It will help businesses and other members of our community who don’t have to drive around, look for parking and cause more traffic jams,” she said.

[email protected] | (864) 973-6687

Parking garage

Improvements to government building ‘stone age’ parking lot get green light

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 10, 2022

January 9 – It’s been seven years since the Government Service Center parking garage was dubbed a ‘Stone Age’ structure, but in a few months, drivers will be able to use it 24/7 and pay in cash or by credit card.

During budget hearings in 2015, Commissioner Cindy Carpenter dubbed the five-story structure at the corner of Court Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard their “Stone Age” garage, but it still took several years for the wheels to turn to automate it. , in part because of the cost.

Now Carpenter is calling it their “new age” garage since she and her fellow Commissioners have given the green light to spend $ 200,000 to fully automate the garage which will be open 24/7 and drivers can use money or credit to pay. The project, which generates more income, is expected to be completed by the end of this quarter.

“I think the key to success is just to make it easy to use, if we achieve that goal we have done something very beneficial to the public…” said Carpenter. “I’m not as worried about the source of income as I want to make it convenient for the public as we were able to generate enough income to maintain this garage.”

The 600-space garage is currently cash-only, payable at the door. Proposals over the years to automate the garage, make it more user-friendly, and generate income through community events several years ago ranged from $ 100,000 to $ 400,000.

Chris Hacker, the county’s director of assets, purchasing and projects, said he didn’t need to bid on the project because the software system that operates the garage systems was already in place. The entrance and exits will look the same, except that there will no longer be a garage attendant to run the stand on Court Street.

There will be a payment kiosk that takes cash or credit in the lobby on the first floor of the garage and another inside the CGC near the covered passage that connects the two buildings on the second floor.

There are a number of different parking arrangements at the garage. People can pay $ 40 per month for a reserved spot, county jurisdiction jurors, law enforcement and firefighters and others park for free, then daily parking lots that pay a maximum of $ 6.50 . There will be an online payment option for monthly parking.

Hacker has said now that they can eliminate the separate daily rate and the monthly parking lanes that go down to the exit, they can add additional parking spaces along that ramp, which will improve the bottom line.

Previously, there were two part-time mechanics who collectively made $ 31,000. According to county administrator Judi Boyko, one has retired and the other has filled a vacant position in the county mail room.

The full-time parking attendant will always be there to “troubleshoot” and make sure everything is working properly.

The other commissioners said early on that the automation project must have a decent return on investment. Boyko said the county estimates “a five-year return on investment based on the cost of automation, increased revenue and reduced costs.” She said she expects earnings to increase by about 18 to 20 percent, or about $ 35,000 per year.

Entertainment and events have intensified dramatically in Hamilton since the county began discussing automation, such as the giant sports and convention site Spooky Nook which is under construction. Commissioner TC Rogers said having a fully automated garage will allow them to capitalize on all the activity.

“I think it’s a solid investment, especially with what’s going on in the city of Hamilton,” said Rogers. “Parking will be more important outside of office hours. “

Another sign of the times that makes automation a particularly interesting project is the severe labor shortage everyone faces due to the fallout from the pandemic, according to Commissioner Don Dixon. He said “it makes sense to take the one headache out” of finding people to work in the garage and the price was right.

Hacker said that once the automation project is completed, the “cash only” signs will drop and there will be a lot of signs to inform people about the new parking process.

Parking garage

Opinion: It’s time for a downtown parking garage

by Deena S. Hawkins on January 7, 2022

This‘It has been almost 10 years since the community expressed its disapproval of a parking garage at the entrance to the village and the council withdrew it from consideration. I was among the poo pooers. But oh what a difference a decade makes.

Riverside County, one of Laguna’s main food markets, has grown 10% over the past decade, adding around a quarter of a million people, according to U.S. census data. Orange County has grown 6% over the same period, adding an estimated 177,000 to its already bloated ranks of 3 million. This was during a period when 53% of all US counties were shrinking. Yeah they‘are still coming, despite our taxes, the cost of living, homelessness, natural disasters and liberal tolerance for crime.

Additionally, we have now learned empirically that walking walks do improve the quality of our lives, with pleasant downtown streets for strolling, window shopping and al fresco dining. But we need to replace those 43 parking spaces lost in Forest, as well as the spaces displaced by adjacent parklets, and the nine spaces lost due to the $ 11 million village entrance beautification project. And we need the flexibility to eliminate additional parking if we decide to pedestrianize downtown more in the future.

Additionally, the new downtown-specific plan has reduced the amount of on-site parking that merchants need to obtain clearance, meaning it‘s now more necessary than ever to provide replacement parking. One person who opposed the DSP and expressed disapproval of the Coastal Commission was Council member George Weiss. He said that despite advances in alternative transport, cars were there for the foreseeable future and therefore parking needed to be provided. Well, since Coastal approved the DSP, here is‘This is your chance, George.

Right here‘what’s this‘has also changed. We now have a better design that incorporates and reuses the historic and temperamental building of the digester. Artist and town planning commissioner Jorg Dubin put his volunteer creativity to work and designed a modest and tasteful three-story rendering of a Spanish Mission garage that uses the digester as a staircase and elevator. The garage is on the right and is thus set back discreetly into the side of the hill, and is below our height limit of 36 feet.

But it doesn’t‘t must be a single-use building, first of all because we have a mandate from the State for more affordable housing. And also because we have failed to provide our talented young athletes with a safe place to skate, despite the fact that we are home to world class skaters, including world number one Nyjah Huston. This structure could be multifunctional – a skateboard park on the top floor – which could be converted into a parking lot during the summer if required. And if we used the ground floor for affordable housing, we’d have a four-way win, or what‘is known in the permaculture world as stacked use. A historic drug rehab, skate park, affordable housing and a parking facility. This funding could be obtained from a variety of sources, including state housing subsidies. And whatever the cost, it will eventually be recovered through parking fees and / or rents.

The reason this location makes so much sense is that cars entering through Laguna Canyon Road would never have to drive through our downtown streets looking for parking. Yet he‘s within walking distance of everything unlike Act V. And imagine how nice and quaint it would be to one day have a slow cart from the garage to the beach, right in the middle of Ocean Avenue, and travel around the other way around to the Sawdust Festival — a connecting line from our arts district to the beach. But I digress. For now let‘This makes it our transportation hub, where buses, trolleys and even an e-bike rental kiosk could be cited, making it easy and appealing to ditch the car and get around town effortlessly.

What made other walks such as Pearl Street in Boulder and Third Street in Santa Monica so successful was the addition of parking lots on the outskirts. The Promenade is just one piece of the puzzle to make our downtown area less congested and more community-focused. To anticipate the continued increase in population and popularity of Laguna, we still need more multimodal transport options and safe cycling infrastructure. We still need to bury power lines on Laguna Canyon Road and a dedicated bicycle and transit lane. We still need parking in the north and south of the Laguna, so that arriving tourists can park and ride. This will make Laguna a model city of the future, relieving us of the burden of fossil fuels while making our commute less stressful for us residents. This will dramatically improve the quality of life for generations to come, and achieve an equally important goal for most of you – increasing the value of your home. If not us, who? If not now when?

Mayor Sue Kempf and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Whalen lead the Senior Parking Subcommittee, which is responsible for developing a parking master plan for the city. If you agree with a downtown parking garage, be sure to express your support.

Billy hosts Laguna Talks Thursday nights on KXFM radio. He‘s also the CEO of La Vida Laguna, an e-bike and ocean sports tourism company. E-mail: [email protected]

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Parking spaces

More than 60 additional parking spaces arrive at the TPP in time for Christmas

by Deena S. Hawkins on December 20, 2021

in All News / By: BVI News on Dec 20, 2021 @ 7:27 AM /

Vance Lewis

Management at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park (TPP) is creating an additional 60 parking spaces to accommodate more visitors to the multimillion-dollar facility as the holiday season and cruise ship arrivals gear up.

According to TPP CEO Vance Lewis there have been complaints over the years about the lack of adequate parking spaces at the pier park and he and his team have sought to address this issue with the new car park which is expected to be ready soon.

“You know, because Christmas is coming up, we’re kicking things into high gear. We’re in the process of making sure we have improved parking. Improved parking means we have additional parking options. One of the perennial complaints that we had in the pier park is that parking is limited so just at the entrance there is a space which is cleared, rolled and paved and it is going to be marked to provide some 60 additional parking spaces” , Lewis said.

“Then we will open the gate to allow people to enter the park directly from the pier. Thus, you will be literally a stone’s throw from the park of the pier. This is in addition to the parking we currently have at the facilities,” added the CEO.

Lewis noted that the holiday season, which includes TPP’s annual three-day Christmas event, means there will be a greater influx of patrons into the park. He said that means more and safer parking lots are needed to make park users feel comfortable while they shop and have fun.

The CEO added that the reopening of the cruise ship has also led to increased activity in the pier park, which also requires additional parking spaces for taxi operators; therefore the area is being prepared in time for Christmas.

Lewis hopes the parking lot will be ready for vehicles next week as the postponed three-day Christmas celebration kicks off on Tuesday.

The event, which was to take place from Thursday December 16 to Saturday December 18, has been postponed due to bad weather.

However, according to management, everything should go as planned on December 21.

Parking garage

Amherst council assaulted as parking garage moves forward

by Deena S. Hawkins on December 6, 2021

AMHERST – A series of zoning changes, including one that could provide the opportunity for a private developer to build the second parking garage in downtown Amherst, continues to move forward.

Despite numerous oral and written calls for city council to stop the rezoning process – one resident comparing the scheduling of many public meetings during the holiday season to Chicago-style politics ‘shenanigans’ – councilors held the premieres readings on zoning changes Monday.

Council President Lynn Griesemer said when voters adopted the city’s new charter in 2018, they wanted full-time, year-round government. The council, Griesemer said, has an obligation to put each of the zoning changes to positive or negative votes, and not wait for the new council to sit in January.

During the public comment period, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, many residents of the North Prospect Street neighborhood objected to a proposed overlay neighborhood for the construction of a parking lot in the parking lot between North Pleasant and North Pleasant Streets. North Prospect, adjacent to the private CVS Pharmacy lot.

Critics have argued that the rezoning is sponsored by District 3 Councilor George Ryan and District 4 Councilor Evan Ross, whose terms will end in January after being defeated in nominations for re-election. Councilors put forward the idea of a second garage to join the Boltwood parking garage as part of a Destination Amherst plan in coordination with the Amherst Business Improvement District and the Area Chamber of Commerce. ‘Amherst.

Griesemer said there was no evidence the community was against the parking lot.

“The argument that people have spoken needs further consideration,” said Griesemer, observing that Ross and Ryan were only 50 votes combined to win a second term.

The parking facility overlay district would not change the underlying general zoning district from the residence to the business headquarters, but would establish specific guidelines for the use of the site only for a parking garage. Other zoning changes under discussion include extending alfresco dining and other pandemic-related initiatives until 2022, lowering the threshold in mixed-use buildings to 30% commercial space, and lowering the threshold in mixed-use buildings to 30% commercial space and have specific parking requirements for all dwellings.

Senior planner Nathaniel Malloy said that with the parking lot rezoning, a 270-space garage could fit on the site and be similar in size to the one in downtown Greenfield.

General Councilor Andy Steinberg said the rezoning was only to allow the site to be used for a garage. Steinberg said if other sites for a garage were looked at it would be the responsibility of a future council.

Centralizing parking is a concept supported by At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke, who said she wants protections for the city and neighborhoods as well. These could be subject to conditions in the call for tenders for the new car park.

District 4 Councilor Steve Schreiber said a well-designed parking garage could be nicer than a deteriorating paved lot.

But District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam said she would never accept a parking garage built in front of 19th-century homes.

“There is no way to make a parking structure compatible with a historic district,” Pam said, adding that she saw a flawed process. “It’s ruinous for the adjacent residential neighborhood.”

District 1 Councilor Sarah Swartz said councilors must listen to neighbors and moving parking near homes is hypocritical action after councilors voted to eliminate parking in front of town hall as part of the move. the restoration of North Common.

Many who spoke criticized the council for pursuing zoning changes after the election. Barbara Pearson of Paige Street said the busy schedule of meetings reminded her of Mayor Richard J. Daley’s boss-style Chicago politics. “I can’t think of a good reason why this is happening,” Pearson said.

“It doesn’t have to be,” said Rani Parker of 24 North Prospect, who requested a community impact assessment before the zoning change.

Harry Peltz of 32 North Prospect called the zoning changes “hasty judgment” and said too little research was being done. Likewise, Suzannah Muspratt of 38 North Prospect said the board is shortening normal procedures. and Jay Silverstein of 32 North Prospect said the residents were “cheated”.

Ira Bryck of Strong Street said council is making zoning changes without transparency and should take a break until new councilors are sworn in. He was joined by Ken Rosenthal of Sunset Avenue, who said any action should be delayed until January.

Defenders of the parking lot, including Sharon Povinelli, a North Amherst resident who co-owns AJ Hastings, called on councilors to act. “Businesses need destination parking,” Povinelli said.

BID Executive Director Gabrielle Gould said the zoning change was meant to look to the future and more parking could lead to the success of restaurants, performing arts venues, including the relaunched future Drake. and an expanded Jones library.

At Large Councilor Alisa Brewer said one of the lingering questions was whether the Boltwood Parking Garage, opened in September 2002 with a surface level and a basement level, could easily have additional parking floors . It is understood that the garage was built in such a way that it could accommodate such an extension. Planning director Christine Brestrup said the city would likely need to hire a structural engineer to determine the feasibility of adding floors.

Brewer also noted that the idea of building a parking lot in the Amity Street parking lot across from the Jones Library, where the Amherst Academy once stood, is often mentioned. Brewer said it is possible that the deed restrictions prohibit building a garage there. The poet Emily Dickinson and the founder of Mount Holyoke College, Mary Lyon, were both taught at this school.

Scott Merzbach can be contacted at [email protected]

Parking garage

Amherst council assaulted as parking lot moves forward

by Deena S. Hawkins on December 1, 2021