Too many Short North parking lots??? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Too many Short North parking lots???

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Started 2 years ago by alove
Latest reply from MikeReed

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alove
Downtown
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Have you ever wondered why there are so many parking lots in Columbus?
Well everybody knows about the abundance of parking downtown, but even in the trendy Short North neighborhood, the parking lots give it a very suburban feel. Not very urban. Urban renewal can be a good thing, but it has torn down a lot of old buildings around the entire city.

I wanted to know other people's opinions on this topic and how content people are with things.

IMO: High St should be developed all the way to the side walks, stretching from downtown to gateway/south campus. (Included would be an entirely new neighborhood/district in-between the Short North and south campus, and of course street cars running down High)

I was googling and came across these visuals from someone's blog:
http://columbus-ite.com/2009/04/03/urban-renewal-in-the-short-north/

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I would like to see more proposals like the new hotel concept which offers a parking garage with retail storefronts. So I sort of see your point but those spaces need to be addressed if they are being removed.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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alove wrote >>
I wanted to know other people's opinions on this topic and how content people are with things.

Urban Infill is good policy. I'm always excited about looking forward to future infill development, but I'm also content with how things currently are. Even if we don't live in a perfect urbanist wet dream, you have to appreciate the things that we do have. Otherwise you'll spend your whole life frustrated and permanently waiting. There will ALWAYS be something else to improve upon. No city or neighborhood is ever complete.

Happy Friday! :D

Posted 2 years ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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Compared to most urban areas of Columbus, the Short North is probably the best at not having a lot of parking lots.

The worst area to me is the west side of High Street between Long and Gay Street. Also troublesome is surface parking on S 3rd Street directly across from Capitol Square.

Posted 2 years ago #
groundrules

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it's been like whole day since there was a Short North Fantasy thread.

Posted 2 years ago #
anillo
Marzipan City
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they're needed, have you ever tried to park at a gallery hop?

Posted 2 years ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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I was discussing this last night with friends, none of us live in the SN, love to go, but, the single biggest reason for NOT going is parking, or lack thereof.

I wouldn't even have an issue with paying a little more to to "improve my odds" for finding a spot (read:parking garage). Valets are an awesome option too - maybe thats the middleground, eah?

If parking were available over by Jeffry place, its not that far of a walk, heck, I'd pay a few bucks for shuttle service down to 1st in bad weather....

- D

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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yeah, if the point is there are too many surface lots vs. a few garages, I don't think you'll find much opposition. If the argument is that there's too much parking overall, I think you'll find plenty.

Posted 2 years ago #
manticore33
Delaware, OH
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turnedNOTburned wrote >>
I was discussing this last night with friends, none of us live in the SN, love to go, but, the single biggest reason for NOT going is parking, or lack thereof.
I wouldn't even have an issue with paying a little more to to "improve my odds" for finding a spot (read:parking garage). Valets are an awesome option too - maybe thats the middleground, eah?
If parking were available over by Jeffry place, its not that far of a walk, heck, I'd pay a few bucks for shuttle service down to 1st in bad weather....
- D

Being out of town, I agree. There have been a few times I skipped on going to Short North due to time constraints and not waiting waste the night looking for parking. However, parking garages or off site lots parking direct shuttles would be extremely helpful! Sorry, most of the time the wife and I only have a babysitter for a few hours. If it is Friday night, we are on a date, I do not want to waste most of our alone time getting to our destination!

Likewise, as a parent, dragging two young girls (1 year and 2 3/4 years) on public transit is not all that attractive! Especially when contending with a diaper bag, double stroller, toys, and other bits on the bus. When they are older, sure, that 1/4 mi to 1/2 mi walk or half hour bus ride will not be that bad. Subsequently, we usually visit the Short North on off hours.

Edit Add-on:

As much as I love the Short North or downtown for that matter, there are still wonderful local restaurants, coffeehouses, food markets, and stores with more direct and convenient parking. Face it, most people drive cars, and to welcome them to the Short North community will require dealing and storing with how they got there, at least on the short term.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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+1 to off hours!

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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@alove - Glad people are stumbling onto my site! The main point of that entry (de-urbanization would have been more accurate than "urban renewal" which is much more devastating where entire urban neighborhoods are leveled for new development a la Flytown) is that as great as the Short North is there is still plenty of room to fill in and make it even better. As for parking it's easy to park closer to Neil and walk to the SN even during gallery hop. Downtown is suffering much more from its parking lot situation and is currently getting a good deal of much needed infill on several former parking lots.

I'd rather see a focus on filling in other existing urban business districts on W Broad, Parsons, E Long, Mt Vernon, Oak, Cleveland, among others, which have overall been more de-urbanized than what you'll find in the Short North. We've got a bunch of somewhat intact commercial blocks, but many are sitting mostly empty, but there are good reasons, although few, to head out to these corridors. If more people support what's there, more entrepreneurs will be more likely to set up shop nearby. As someone in the northern reaches of Worthington, be sure to cross the other side of 71 and check out Ena's Caribbean Kitchen & New Harvest Cafe in the heart of North Linden's urban business district (most intact in the few blocks from Briarwood up to Genessee where there's only one parking lot). With a bit of imagination you can see what it would look like with just a few more destinations.

Posted 2 years ago #
jpizzow
580 N. Park St.
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Walker wrote >>

alove wrote >>
I wanted to know other people's opinions on this topic and how content people are with things.

Urban Infill is good policy. I'm always excited about looking forward to future infill development, but I'm also content with how things currently are. Even if we don't live in a perfect urbanist wet dream, you have to appreciate the things that we do have. Otherwise you'll spend your whole life frustrated and permanently waiting. There will ALWAYS be something else to improve upon. No city or neighborhood is ever complete.
Happy Friday! :D

I second that thought.

And, as I've said a thousand times before, we NEED a parking
garage(s). That's all for now.

Posted 2 years ago #
shirtandpants

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the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore. if you live far enough away that you HAVE to drive to the sn, you don't really belong here. sorry.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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shirtandpants wrote >>
the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore. if you live far enough away that you HAVE to drive to the sn, you don't really belong here. sorry.

You clearly don't own a business in the Short North.

ETA: if the only people who spent money in the Short North were pedestrians, they'd be buying crack and hookers like the old days in no time.

Posted 2 years ago #
anillo
Marzipan City
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shirtandpants wrote >> if you live far enough away that you HAVE to drive to the sn, you don't really belong here. sorry.

Do you have any idea how many people visit the SN on the weekend/during Gallery Hops who don't live within walking distance?

Posted 2 years ago #
Thory
Asheville, NC
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shirtandpants wrote >>
the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore.

I agree that parking garages are generally ugly. They can be hidden, though.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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shirtandpants wrote >>
the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore. if you live far enough away that you HAVE to drive to the sn, you don't really belong here. sorry.

The Pizzuti garage would have retail store fronts at street level. Everyone belongs here. Sorry.

Posted 2 years ago #
manticore33
Delaware, OH
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shirtandpants wrote >>
the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore. if you live far enough away that you HAVE to drive to the sn, you don't really belong here. sorry.

Wow, just wow. It is nice to know that I've wasted so much time and money in the area. Sorry, I live out-of-town and should not be a part of your vision for a 'hip urban' community. And to think, I was trying to spread information that not all small communities or suburbs are bad (even though we have plenty of free parking. Also, don't forget most of the farmer's at the North Market Farmer's Market live in more rural areas, oh I'm beside myself that they drive TRUCKS and VANS to bring yummy fresh produce...)

As a strong out-of-town advocate for the area and encouraging the people around me to patronize the area, I find you remark extremely insulting. There are many, many, many times I share my wonderful experiences in the Short North and tell people to get out of the strip malls and experience the city!

Yes, parking garages are ugly, but you can do a combination of street facing retail and parking in the back. Likewise, you could do underground parking like under the statehouse. Not a perfect solution, but if it keeps the community alive, you should welcome it.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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Thory wrote >>

shirtandpants wrote >>
the last thing the short north needs is a parking garage. what an eyesore.

I agree that parking garages are generally ugly. They can be hidden, though.

I think they look much nicer than parking lots or whatever is next to the UDF? We need ample parking for our businesses and many events. Maybe a huge new garage with the 3C station? I'd like to see fewer parking lots in the SN and the best way to do that is building garages. I believe the state and city gave quite a bit of money to Ibiza for this very purpose and if Ibiza is indeed folding, those respective entities need to get that money back.

Posted 2 years ago #
DCist
UA
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turnedNOTburned wrote >>
I was discussing this last night with friends, none of us live in the SN, love to go, but, the single biggest reason for NOT going is parking, or lack thereof.
I wouldn't even have an issue with paying a little more to to "improve my odds" for finding a spot (read:parking garage). Valets are an awesome option too - maybe thats the middleground, eah?
If parking were available over by Jeffry place, its not that far of a walk, heck, I'd pay a few bucks for shuttle service down to 1st in bad weather....
- D

maybe they can build a lot/garage ON the HUGE empty space where The Jeffrey was supposed to go (but never happened) :) Just kidding

Posted 2 years ago #