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Jeni's Ice Creams Powell Parking Drama

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from AmyD

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Parking in Powell: How much is enough?
By LAURA ENGLEHART
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Powell leaders and Downtown business owners are at odds as they try to sort through the city's parking issues.

"None of the proposed users (for 8 N. Liberty St.) include a 'full-service, sit-down, drinking and-or eating establishment'; therefore a valet parking plan is not required," wrote city Development Director Dave Betz and Law Director Gene Hollins in a Sept. 30 memorandum to City Manager Steve Lutz.

But Vince Margello, a Liberty Township resident who owns property near Powell and Liberty roads, said Oct. 5 there will be major parking problems when Jeni's moves into the building.

READ MORE: http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2010/10/13/multiple_papers/news/allovcounc_20101012_0600pm_8.txt

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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guess it's time for a monorail in Powell

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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I wonder if Jeni's has any information collected about how many people walk/bike to their locations compared to auto traffic. Their Grandview and Short North stores are in very similar situations where parking is at a minimum and I haven't noticed as many feathers being ruffled with neighboring business there (although maybe it's just been quieter than this).

Posted 2 years ago #
lazyfish

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I've heard lots of parking complaints about the new Clintonville Jenny's.

Posted 2 years ago #
groundrules

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Walker wrote >>
I wonder if Jeni's has any information collected about how many people walk/bike to their locations compared to auto traffic. Their Grandview and Short North stores are in very similar situations where parking is at a minimum and I haven't noticed as many feathers being ruffled with neighboring business there (although maybe it's just been quieter than this).

There's a pretty hefty parking lot behind the row of shops in grandview.

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Walker wrote >>
I wonder if Jeni's has any information collected about how many people walk/bike to their locations compared to auto traffic. Their Grandview and Short North stores are in very similar situations where parking is at a minimum and I haven't noticed as many feathers being ruffled with neighboring business there (although maybe it's just been quieter than this).

I'm sure it helps in Grandview to have 350 shared parking spots behind the bank block building(s).

Posted 2 years ago #
catnfiddle
Peeghaven
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I have a feeling that Grandview is more of a walking community than Powell is. It's rare that I drive to Grandview Ave.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Is 350 really a whole lot for the strip of businesses (a lot of high-traffic restaurants) there in Grandview though? It always seems to be pretty busy over there.

I've never spent a ton of time in Powell, but I've always gotten the impression that the historic Downtown area of Powell is touted as an older walkable little community. Maybe smaller than Grandview, and has some less-walkable parts of the city beyond that, but the core is pretty walkable.

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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While downtown Powell is walkable, it's not very accessible to residents within a couple miles for walking/riding too.

Small two lane country roads with a large amount of traffic combined with limited sidewalks makes driving to the downtown area almost necessary for most people.

Also, shouldn't the parking issue already been addressed when Jeni's was approved for that location by the City of Powell? Seems late to fight it.

Posted 2 years ago #
meigsNkegs

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I think they have added bike paths that come in from the north, though it has been years since I really have been back in there. Also I would debate how many people drive down there for antiques and dinner and then walk to get ice cream for dessert while window shopping etc. I would fight it based on people driving and parking only for ice cream and the leaving, granted I would do much worse for that stuff :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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futureman wrote >>
While downtown Powell is walkable, it's not very accessible to residents within a couple miles for walking/riding too.
Small two lane country roads with a large amount of traffic combined with limited sidewalks makes driving to the downtown area almost necessary for most people.

Can't nearly the same thing be said about Grandview Avenue or The Short North? They're narrow roads with high traffic.

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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Walker wrote >>

futureman wrote >>
While downtown Powell is walkable, it's not very accessible to residents within a couple miles for walking/riding too.
Small two lane country roads with a large amount of traffic combined with limited sidewalks makes driving to the downtown area almost necessary for most people.

Can't nearly the same thing be said about Grandview Avenue or The Short North? They're narrow roads with high traffic.

Nearly the same, but there are sidewalks and the roads are well lit.
Walking or biking along a country road for a few miles isn't a very safe option.

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Walker wrote >>

futureman wrote >>
While downtown Powell is walkable, it's not very accessible to residents within a couple miles for walking/riding too.
Small two lane country roads with a large amount of traffic combined with limited sidewalks makes driving to the downtown area almost necessary for most people.

Can't nearly the same thing be said about Grandview Avenue or The Short North? They're narrow roads with high traffic.

Huh? How are the roads around the Short north and Grandview anyway like a typical country road surrounding downtown Powell?

Posted 2 years ago #
PunkRockSean
Beechwold
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lazyfish wrote >>
I've heard lots of parking complaints about the new Clintonville Jenny's.

I imagine word hasn't spread yet that customers may park in the evenings in the lots for either the Insurance Co. or the Kemba Credit Union north of the new Jeni's... plenty of spots there!

Posted 2 years ago #
cc

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I think it makes sense for Powell to make educated decisions concerning their parking policies. They are reviewing whether an oversight was made and Jeni's was not seen as a 'high use' tenant (after other businesses voiced concern). I assume Jeni's would want to be a good neighbor to the other local establishments, as it appears they are being in Clintonville.

I also don't see Jeni's quoted one way or another so 'Jeni's vs the City of Powell' is a bit misleading. The article is about local businesses concerned about local parking policies and whether they are being enforced correctly.

When in ~~Rome~~ Powell...

Posted 2 years ago #
chrisat4th

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Thing with Grandview and the Short North is that there are a LOT of people who live nearby, and who can walk. Powell really does seem much more of a driving sort of place. How many people can *really* walk to downtown Powell easily? And how many, living in Powell, would even consider doing so?

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
The Bacon District
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I'm sure if Powell is not interested in a Jeni's shop there are plenty of communities who would be. *shrug*

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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cc wrote >>
I also don't see Jeni's quoted one way or another so 'Jeni's vs the City of Powell' is a bit misleading. The article is about local businesses concerned about local parking policies and whether they are being enforced correctly.

I didn't intend the headline to be misleading. Judging from what I read in the article, it sounds like a general pushback from some citizens and some of the business community in Powell (which is what I meant by "The City of Powell") against the concept of Jeni's, which is a high-traffic highly-popular destination business setting up shop on that strip.

Maybe I'm just reading something between the lines that isn't there, but I'm getting some serious "they're too popular and too successful which means parking problems" vibe rather than a "our commercial strip stands to benefit from the increased foot-traffic that Jeni's will bring".

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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futureman wrote >>
Huh? How are the roads around the Short north and Grandview anyway like a typical country road surrounding downtown Powell?

They're both narrow. They're both high-traffic.

I didn't say they were identical.

Just pointing out that some similarities exist and those challenges have been addressed in other communities.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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chrisat4th wrote >>
Thing with Grandview and the Short North is that there are a LOT of people who live nearby, and who can walk. Powell really does seem much more of a driving sort of place. How many people can *really* walk to downtown Powell easily? And how many, living in Powell, would even consider doing so?

I'd love to see data on how many customers exist within a half-mile walk of each of the Jeni's locations. I agree that Grandview or the Short North are probably a little bit denser, but I don't think that Downtown Powell is quite as sprawling as the newer outer-edge developments in Powell.

Not sure of a good way to access that type of data though to compare. ;)

Posted 2 years ago #