The first phase of the new downtown parking structure is open for biz about 11 months after we discussed it here. The ground floor has been offering free, try-before-you-buy parking for a couple of weeks, but that is now over. It should relieve a little of the pressure from parklets and construction, especially at the old post office where today is groundbreaking day. Here's the view of the ground floor--full-- except for the EV spots which were......empty. I think they will be more successful than the spots near Broadway which shouldn't be hard to accomplish.
An eagle-eyed reader forwarded this photo of the rooftop parking and noted the absence of the concrete "wheel blocks" in front of the cable railing that appears a bit flimsy. We've seen a few instances of drivers thinking they were in reverse when they weren't or hitting the gas instead of the brake, so the wheel blocks seem like a good idea here.
From the e-newsletter today:
All 368 parking spaces are now open and available for public use at 161 Highland Avenue.
Posted by: Joe | September 23, 2021 at 04:09 PM
I just drove through downtown on my way home tonight. Is there any reason why a dozen or more lights need to be blazing away on the top floor at 11:30 pm on a Tuesday? There is nobody around, no businesses open (didn't check the Alibi, so maybe one is open) and nobody would be parking on the top floor. Let's think this through while we pour light pollution all over downtown.
Posted by: Joe | November 16, 2021 at 11:36 PM
If dark, at best; make-out central, at worst; crime scene.
Or, is the garage locked at night?
If so, turn off the lights except the ground floor.
Posted by: Peter Garrison | November 17, 2021 at 07:06 AM
If there isn't a gate to lock off the top one or two floors during low periods, there should be otherwise it is as you say regardless of how much lighting you put up there.
One local wag responded (offline) that the parking garage lighting is just supplemental lighting for the roundabout which is a bit deficient in that regard :-0
Posted by: Joe | November 17, 2021 at 02:17 PM
It looks like there is a new, free public parking lot downtown.
I don't drive to Safeway (instead of walking) unless I have a huge list. Yesterday was the third time in the last month or more that I drove. Each time the ground level was full, cars were circling and when I got to the roof parking it was 90% full. I usually walk down the stairs to the store. Yesterday, I followed two couples down the stairs--I turn right to go in the store and they turn left to walk to the Avenue. The store is pretty empty mid-afternoon, but the parking is full..........and it's a nearly impossible parking enforcement problem......
Posted by: Joe | December 04, 2021 at 01:09 PM
I sometimes park up there if I have a quick errand to run at another store before I go to Safeway. So I don't know, MAYBE they were going to shop at Safeway after running another errand. Not likely, but possible!
Posted by: HMB | December 04, 2021 at 03:40 PM