Photo: Mary RobbinsDowntown paid parking could mean parking deck
A parking deck could be in Fayetteville’s near future if the city converted public and private parking lots in the downtown area to paid, Sharon Crosson, the parking and telecommunications manager, told aldermen on Tuesday night at the agenda session.
Three resolutions geared toward the entertainment district’s parking will be before the city council at next week’s meeting. The resolutions do not discuss specifics, such as citation fees or rates for parking, but rather are aimed to demonstrate the council’s strong intent to move forward in acquiescing private lots and switching existing free public parking to paid lots.
Don Marr, the mayor’s chief of staff, said they are taking this approach in seeking “strong intent” so that city staff does not devote researching and designing time to the project only to have an ordinance struck down by the council.
City management of the parking lots would mean getting away from towing, Crosson said. Right now, the private lots that require payment do not have any recourse for enforcing their rates other than to tow, she said.
“I’ve had at least fifty people tell me they will never visit Fayetteville again, because they came here to go to a show or to have dinner, and they got towed,” Crosson said.
Mayor Lioneld Jordan said he had spoken with about fifteen business owners from the Dickson Street area. They resoundingly said they wanted to get rid of towing and use the money generated from paid lots for a parking deck, Jordan said.
It makes sense for the city to manage private lots and charge for spaces that are free, Alderman Brenda Thiel said.
“I realize there are some people who don’t want to pay for public parking,” she said, “but I don’t know of any large city that has free parking like we do.”
Potential locations for the parking deck have been discussed for the University Baptist Church lot and the parking lot south of Grub’s Bar and Grille, Crosson said.
In detail, the resolutions for next Tuesday’s meeting are seeking the council’s support for acquiring leases for private lots, converting the free public lots to paid, as well as supporting residential parking permits for those who live in the Dickson Street neighborhood.
Mary Robbins declared Fayetteville as her hometown upon moving here for college. She is a Journalism graduate who enjoys live music, the outdoors and attending city council meetings. For more of Mary’s stories, visit her author page.
Comments
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Sarah Tomlin
November 25, 2009
Wow…
I came from Dallas where I had to pay for parking everywhere I went. It got old very quick and was the reason I stayed away from businesses downtown..
I don’t carry cash or change anywhere. I use debit cards only. Even if the lot had a machine that accepted this type of payment I still would not pay to park. I’d either walk further or just not go.
I don’t think paid parking would benefit downtown businesses.
Sarah Tomlin
November 25, 2009
I’d like to know also how you figure the total revenue for four new lots would be $657,000……Are you automatically assuming that the same number of people will use the lots?
burgerboy
November 25, 2009
I just wanted to point out that a garage was something former mayor Coody supported and was planning for, while Jordan said during his campaign that he was against paid parking downtown.
Mark_Landry
November 25, 2009
Just ask the churches to end their paid parking/tow-mafia arrangements.
And maybe make the library garage into public parking, with a shuttle service.
St Ambrose
November 26, 2009
Another nail in the coffin that is Dickson Street.
We can stick it to the tourists on Dickson, but lets develop a new “local scene” to replace what Dickson used to be.
Keep Fayetteville Funky.
Andrew
November 27, 2009
I agree with St Ambrose … this is the death of Dickson. We need a new place, far from the greed of the University, the clowns at the churches, and the idiots running this city.
I for one, will no longer do business with any of the restaurants or walton art center if I have to pay for parking. The bars… well, I will wait for something to replace them.
Urk
November 27, 2009
south of town y’all. Down where the lots were drawn narrow to hold little houses for the millworkers and cannery hands to live in. Down where the black folks used to live. That’s the last funky place in Fayetteville.
But here’s the deal: part of what made Dickson funky is the neighborhoods around it. Once those gentrified the street was already dead. So if you want to make things happen in south Fayetteville you need to live down there and take care of it.
David Franks
November 27, 2009
Urk–
You mean by not putting a bunch of student housing at the sale barn site?
Corpbob
November 28, 2009
I won’t be going downtown again if there’s paid parking. Most people I know don’t carry cash and it’s not worth the extra trouble and the risk of parking tickets. There’s nothing on Dickson Street that can’t be had elsewhere with free parking. Most cities around here have dumped paid parking to help save their downtown businesses. Wake up Fayetteville before you kill Dickson Street.
mpetty
November 28, 2009
There will still be plenty of free parking, if you’re willing to walk a few blocks.
@Corpbob – What makes you think you’ll have to have cash to pay for parking? This is 2009, and we’re going to be looking at upgrading all of our paid parking to take plastic in the next few years.
Offcamber
November 28, 2009
Meeting friends for dinner, drinks, or a band on Dickson is usually a casual affair. Cars converge, people do their thing, and they leave. An exercise in whimsy, relaxation, and low hassles. Pay parking everywhere within a reasonable distance is turn-off. I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, but it’s as much principle for potential patrons as cost. All over NWA, people will always be finishing this sentence: “Hey let’s go…”
Work up the most convenient credit card readers you can find, and make it a model of simplicity. It will not matter. The moment of decision will still slip out of Dickson’s favor far more often. Pay parking is a tangible outlet for the wider resentment for the commercial, over-developed fleece that replaced the “funky” Dickson.
Those in FayGov trying to be an Architect of Dickson are completely missing the mark. Activity on Dickson is wholly organic and people-driven, and forcing awkward and arbitrary designs on the area is against the grain. Indeterminate profit motive and gross impartiality (lot handover to WAC, Inn-reserved street spots) show FayGov is out of touch with the spirit and desires of Dickson patrons. Feet make Dickson, and feet can walk.
How many places in Benton and Washington counties are licensed to serve alcohol as a private club or otherwise? Several hundred by now? The formula that made Dickson fun in the past is ripe to coalesce elsewhere.
mpetty
November 28, 2009
It’s funny that the government catches all of the dissent, when we have the support of the Dickson St businesses.
Offcamber
November 29, 2009
Ermkay? Swimming approval for something that discourages access to their businesses? Wasn’t there just a flap about some meters being installed in front of shops?
If that’s *really* the state of Dickson – universal pay parking equals entertainment district major leagues, just like a major metro – everyone on board deserves one another. Their loss. See previous.
But you know what? FayGov puts the face on change, and owns the public confidence. They’re the enablers, and right now they’re serving up a steaming pile of “do not want.”
David Franks
November 29, 2009
Offcamber–
Dickson Street is not just bars, so the number of bars elsewhere isn’t the only consideration for going elsewhere. But a lot of the places with liquor licenses are national chains. It sounds like you’d take a big chance on giving up being in a good local place (there still seem to be a few of them) in order to not pay for parking on Dickson Street, but at least you’ll have your principles.
Say, though, that you drove an extra fifteen miles total in order to show your disdain for, say, two hours of paid parking on Dickson Street. Actual cost of your rebellion: Over a dollar for gas, fifteen miles of wear and tear to your car, the annoyance of the traffic you will encounter, plus the value to you of thirty minutes or so of additional travel time. In your scenario, you’re not carpooling, so you’ll not add value to your travel time by being in the car with your friends. If you have a limit on your social time, you will have to take the extra travel time from your time with your friends. You also risk losing some of the group because they might not be able to converge casually at your remote location.
Dang– Going elsewhere could cost you your friends. Is it really more whimsical, relaxed, or low-hassle than paying for parking? Are your principles worth all of that?
Sarah Tomlin
November 29, 2009
David Franks reply made me lol big time.
Mike Clark
November 29, 2009
To all the people balking at the idea of paid parking: are you 100% against the idea of paying to park no matter the price? What if it were less than $5 a night, and all the proceeds were re-invested in the community?
Urk
November 29, 2009
David Franks:
Re:student housing in south Fayetteville. I dunno. When Dickson was funkier there was student housing in the neighborhoods around it. but i think that the average student economic/social footprint is different than it used to be. If you mean the recently proposed complex, that doesn’t seem a boon to funkiness, no.
Re Parking: It seems like it’s a mess down there right now, especially on weekend nights. Paid parking is not the devil.
chris c
November 29, 2009
Let’s see this on a ballot. I have a feeling it would be voted down just like the recent tax hike to tear down and rebuild Fayetteville High School.
I am not completely opposed to pay parking in Fayetteville. As Matt Petty said in the comments to another post, it’s only a matter of time. I just don’t see the need at this point to go there.
The only time (excluding the societal vomit that is BBBBBBBBBQ) it is difficult to find a spot is during a Razorback home game, and even then you can usually find something within a couple blocks if you are persistent.
Offcamber
November 29, 2009
This is at least the third time I’ll say it: has nothing to do with cost. I can afford every cent that goes into a Dickson shopping, dining, or drinking experience many times over, and I’m probably not counting pennies when I’m there.
All the stakeholders around Dickson are charged with winning my favor and welcoming me back. There’s no “dollars and sense” in my patronage, just whims and tipping points. “Let’s go to…Dickson Street” can pretty easily turn into a “nah.” Avoid it entirely? No, but I would see my number of visits sliding. Many others, too.
Fayetteville is where I was born, where I’m from, and where I got my sheepskins. I’ve been here long enough to know pay parking won’t mean an immediate nosedive. By the same token, I’ve been here long enough to know that FayGov has grappled something familiar and loved, and is slowly, but surely constricting the character, fun, and accessibility. Don’t take something free and try to sell it to me as a premium good. I’m aware that the need to make a dime is universal, and that this isn’t the rosiest economic climate. I still loathe picky add-on fees, especially those by the airline and cel industries. I’ll bear it for travel and communication. However, I don’t exactly need Dickson every time, especially with alternatives to shop, eat, and drink. Yep, principle.
If you measure progress in the number Brick crosswalk inlays per mile, then wow, he comes another win. The faux-mink set will have more places to park and won’t have to write you indignant letters. If you think Dickson Street has the entertainment draw to make it a charge district without creeping resentment and passive reaction, here comes the fail.
Misty
November 29, 2009
So, I don’t get all this righteous indignation over paid parking. It’s not a unique idea. This is one of the only places I’ve lived where it’s actually free, and I don’t really think that makes Fayetteville special in a good way. I think paid parking will encourage people to walk and carpool more when they go out, both of which are good things. Maybe more people will start taking advantage of our lovely bike/walking trails. Sure, it might not be cool to ride your Schwinn to Stir, but I’m sure the fine for’biking while intoxicated’ is significantly less than the alternative.
And maybe some of that funkiness we’re all bemoaning the loss of will pop up along the bike trail. It’s already starting to happen in the quanset huts on Center St. With paid parking, the richies in their SUVs would be subsidizing useful projects in the community.
Katherine
November 29, 2009
I don’t mind paying for parking, if it is necessary. But we, the taxpayers, are having to pay more because so much is taken space is taken up by non-taxpaying entities like the churches and university. the city and taxpayers are getting a raw deal on this one. I’m surprised the Dickosn businesses aren’t throwing a fit because they are really getting the short end on this one. So much of the parking is taken by university students who would rather park on Dickson and walk to campus while they have huge new parking decks that are half empty most of the time. Or churches keep their parking restricted and private. Neither the university or churches pay taxes, so we the taxpayers getting to pick-up the tab. That’s not right. Now the Walton Arts Center is trying to blackmail the city government into giving them special parking priviledges for their ticket holders to help their fundraising. The WAC sure isn’t too interested in helping Fayetteville out, just their checkbook. Just like the university and churches. everyone is struggling now, organizations, businesses, taxpayers, and government. Someone needs to STOP asking for more money and start doing whats best for EVERYONE. I hope the city council members think about that and not just take the easy way out for once or talk about this until it goes away. They need to demand the university, churches, and Walton Arts Center STEP UP for once and support Fayetteville taxpayers, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
Katherine
November 29, 2009
@mpetty what is this residential parking permit ordinance? Are you proposing that people who live near the Dickson Street area have to pay to park at their homes? How big of an area does this include? As a resident 3 blocks off of Dickson, I think it seems really unfair to expect residents to PAY to park at their long existing home. I personally would not support it or vote for anyone who does. These neighborhoods need help protecting what parking they do have, not letting it be used by university students or vistors in a residential neighborhood – like 2 blocks north of Dickson.
David Franks
November 29, 2009
Offcamber–
How does charging for parking make it a “premium good”? You say that parking is vital, yet you refuse to give it an intrinsic value?
I won’t disagree with you that Dickson Street has changed. I first moved to Fayetteville in 1979, and Dickson was a lot funkier then. Of course a lot of the funkiness was of no use to me, as I have never been much of a barfly. Much of the charm of Dickson Street (and the rest of town, for that matter) was lost when U of A summer sessions grew so much in the early 1980s. As for the influence of the WAC on Dickson Street: many of the best features of Dickson disappeared before the Walton Arts Center appeared. As far as active street life is concerned, the WAC replaced an equivalent stretch of useless street frontage. (I think the WAC could have been integrated better, but oh well.) The WAC brought a lot of parking with it (at the expense of what could have been a nice little park). Many of the problems along Dickson Street over time were caused by property owners who refused to maintain their buildings; at least they for the most part have finally seen that keeping the roofs from leaking is worthwhile.
If parking fees make it possible to build a parking garage that can add substantially to area parking, give some form to the area, increase retail square footage and connect with other modes of transportation, then charge for parking. If starting sooner rather than later allows the city to keep the rate lower, then start sooner.
If the WAC needs a new, bigger facility, I’ll not worry too much if it is built elsewhere in town– as long as the funkier arts are left at the current facility. From what I’ve heard, that would probably be the case.
Andrew
November 29, 2009
I dont mind driving an extra mile to get more diverse products from Harps than Walmart.
Likewise, if I have to spend a gallon of gas to drive somewhere for free parking, I’m sure those 2 costs offset each other. Fayetteville is not that big.
Katherine, the parking decks charge something like $500 or $600 for parking. put yourself in a student’s shoes and that amounts to books for a whole year or gas for the whole year. but i agree with everything else you said.
Urk
November 29, 2009
David & Misty, agreed. Paid parking is not the end of funky Dickson. funky Dickson ended a long time ago. do what you can to make its current existence as as a franchise of college party street USA (TM) more livable for patrons and neighbors. Paying a token for parking to put back into the neighborhood could be a boon to that.
I’d be happy to see churches start paying taxes too of course.
mpetty
November 29, 2009
@Katherine – The residential permitting resolution (there is no ordinance yet) just asks the administration to start looking at the best residential permitting plans from across the country. The goal is to protect residents’ ability to park near their homes as Dickson St grows and we add more festivals to our lineups.
The Dickson St businesses want to move to paid parking because they recognize a need for a deck in the future, and delaying actions needed to build that deck will only compound the problem over time. Students park downtown because it is free, and charging students for daytime use will help to alleviate that parking pressure.
I assure you, the City Council is thinking very hard about this. We recognize that paid parking is a necessity to prevent compounding parking problems, and we also recognize how badly we could screw it up. We are proceeding cautiously, and right now we’re just in an investigative stage. I’m sure the Flyer will continue to keep everyone informed as any policies are developed.
DicksonBizOwner
November 29, 2009
Well, I’m not sure what business owners Mayor Jordan (whom I like) spoke to but I certainly was unaware of the discussion. I can only imagine that those business owners in favor of paid parking want to see an end to the predatory nature of tow companies. A problem that has eased considerably (from my perspective) since the removal of Terry’s Towing Co. I’m on Dickson until the wee, wee hours 4 nights per week. Compared to ANY era that may be considered “glory days”, Dickson St. is now dead. Don’t believe me? Stroll out at midnight on any Friday/Saturday night and see for yourself. Saturday night crowds resemble so-so Thursday nights of the past. The last “great” night on Dickson was Halloween. Home game, Halloween, full moon, time change. The weeks preceeding and following have been incredibly slow. I can’t imagine any business owner (especially bar/club) being in favor of paid parking now or any time in the near future. Dickson Street no longer has an entertainment “upperhand” that can be counted on to trump neighboring citie’s bars/clubs etc… Imagine you own a restaurant (or whatever) and business is slow and the public perception is that going to your place is kind of boring
(or a hassle). Are you going to make the bright decision to start charging people money just to enter your place? There needs to be a lot more “live & let live” in my opinion. I’m not saying turn a blind eye to real problems but if we can have 400,000 drunken bikers with 10 DWIs, I think we can ease up on a lot of the BS of the last 3 years. We need to welcome students back, not arrest drunks who are peacefully walking home, not breathalyze bartenders (is this really a crisis?), not taze people who are “slow” to be arrested etc… In general, things need to loosen up and get zany again. Take the Bourbon St. approach… if you’re not fighting, urinating or having sex in the street, then who cares. Live it up. The city has extinguished Mardi Gras. It was on track to be a dependable, money-making night of fun. Now, it’s nothing. Why? Because you might turn to salt if you see a strange woman’s boobs? Dickson Street has to be fun to survive…like “holy crap, you should’ve seen blah, blah, blah” fun. Currently, it’s not. But, I’m just a dumb bar owner. So, take my input for what it’s worth.
mpetty
November 29, 2009
@DicksonBizOwner – You’re not a dumb bar owner… at the very least you’re a valuable opinion.
Mayor Jordan has been to at least one (I think two) meetings of the Dickson St merchants to discuss paid parking. The administration has told me that that the overwhelming opinion was that paid parking was fine so long as a portion of the revenue would be reinvested back into the area, particularly to build a parking deck.
I’m glad others have noticed the decline of Dickson. What happened to Springfest, Autumnfest, and Mardi Gras? Why are we focused on bringing a second motorcycle rally to solve these problems even as we let other festivals continue to decline?
DicksonBizOwner
November 29, 2009
Matt, I’ve not attended any meetings re parking, so I’ll take blame for that. But, I can’t see how any business owner on Dickson could seriously think paid parking is a solid idea at this time. If street attendance is in decline now (and it is), paid parking will be more anti-Dickson firepower. It wouldn’t kill it dead, I’m not trying to be alarmist, but it won’t help matters. Springfest, Autumnfest and Mardi Gras should all be huge. Springfest desperately needs a makeover. It’s been hobbling along on the same 70’s burnout theme for years now. With the right moves/planning, it could quickly become a full weekend day & night event. Mardi Gras??? I have attended every FPD requested pre-Mardi Gras meeting and God bless ‘em, I don’t get their concerns. In the last 5 years, Mardi Gras on Dickson has been effectively choked to death and I seriously get the impression that it’s because some wayward high-schooler might see a strange woman’s breast. Again, just my opinion.
local
November 29, 2009
DicksonBizOwnwer
You said it. It seems like there is a big nervousness about what to do with dickson st. I think leaving it alone would probably be the best thing. Leave it alone
George
November 30, 2009
I agree with Offcamber. It’s not so much about the money as it is one more potential barrier to making Dickson/Downtown my entertainment destination. Sure I’ll still go, but maybe not as often. We don’t owe Dickson St anything. If it’s not fun/worthwhile…we’ll go elsewhere. And I definitely don’t buy the “everyone else is doing it” argument. Who cares?
DBO & local have the right idea when it comes to Dickson…LEAVE IT ALONE!!! Things seem to have gotten awfully watered down lately. It feels a bit synthetic. Part of the appeal of a good entertainment district is that you can basically do whatever you want as long as it’s not dangerous or destructive. Do you know how hard it is to get arrested on 6th St? Damn hard.
David Franks
November 30, 2009
George–
You complain about the status quo on Dickson Street, then insist it be kept that way. You’d rather have Dickson Street in its watered-down state than take steps to improve it?
If Dickson Street isn’t fun or worthwhile (whatever that means), people won’t go there even if the parking is free. But without more parking, the area can be only so much fun before it reaches its current parking capacity, which is not adequate for even the watered-down fun currently offered. If more parking were available to accommodate increased fun, and if revenue from parking could be applied to more fun, then paid parking would address the problems you have with Dickson Street. Food, drink and merchandise specials could easily make up for patrons’ parking costs.
There are three reasons why it is damn hard to get arrested on 6th Street. First, it is a car street, not a people street. As long as you don’t drive like a ninny or an ****, it’s not really you out there. Second, it isn’t chockablock with bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. Third, the people who get out of their cars there are on average not as interesting as those on Dickson.
David Franks
November 30, 2009
George–
If you referred to 6th Street in Austin, then my last paragraph– though true in relation to 6th Street in Fayetteville– is not relevant. Austin’s 6th Street is one of the wonders of the world. It was in the 1980’s, anyway.
DicksonBizOwner
November 30, 2009
To be clear, I’m not saying all things need to go unchanged on Dickson Street. I just think you’ve got to have a consistently full house before you can start charging people just to sit at the table. Dickson has always had the pat hand when it comes to regional weekend destinations. I think that’s changed or is changing. At the least, it doesn’t seem to hold the allure it once did over the same amount of people.
@David, the idea of the city making money from paid parking while I and others do damage control (offering further discounts to patrons) doesn’t hold much appeal for me. And besides, everyone is already offering reasonable discounts in an effort to make it work.
David Franks
November 30, 2009
DBO–
I appreciate your bristling at my seeming suggestion that you give away your money. I’m going on the notion that revenue from Dickson Street area parking would be used for improvements in the Dickson Street area and so would be of benefit to you, which is why I made the suggestion. As I see it, a discount to cover the cost of parking is largely a matter of marketing: call the discount you already offer (or part of it) a parking discount.
Another way to look at it: if Dickson Street is (or is to be) a full night’s destination– shopping, dinner, show, drinks– then the discount needed to offset parking costs would be spread out among merchants.
I would not suggest such a scheme without also suggesting that the city, merchants and residents agree on what constitutes improvements. I also rather hope that parking would be a dollar per hour or less, though I’m going more on hope than on math.
If paid parking is inevitable (and the churches seem to be making such noises), I’d think Dickson Street area merchants– and residents– have more to gain from city-owned parking than church-owned parking.
DicksonBizOwner
November 30, 2009
David, I can’t disagree with any of your points. Your next beer is on me. I would add though that I’m afraid any “parking discounts” offered by merchants are likely to ring hollow to the public. But, there’s probably a clever way to make it work. I would be more apt to support the idea if everything were right out on the table with regards to improvement plans, percentage of revenues dedicated etc… In fact, that “real” promise may be key to public acceptance. If the improvements are the type to elicit a strong positive response from the public, it would likely work. If the idea is more badly planned, ambiguous mumbo-jumbo, I’d still say let’s pass for now. The last thing merchants and our customers want to feel is that we’ve been fleeced or force fed another bad idea.
burgerboy
November 30, 2009
The rates need to be low, like .50 per hour.
The parking meter stations need to be convenient, like every two blocks.
Thats the best way to make it successful and not harm businesses.
Mullva
November 30, 2009
@ MPetty
As a downtown resident, here’s a couple of thoughts to please keep in mind.
1 – The city code says that a motorcycle is the same on the road as a car. Make sure the parking code is STRICTLY enforced both ways. You can park a car on the sidewalk and it will get ticketed, and probably towed. Park a bike on the sidewalk, and NOTHING will happen. You will see motorcycles parked in front of the Dickson St. Bookstore in the clearly defined “no parking” zone EVERY weekend! Nothing ever happens to the bikes, but a car parked there would be a different story. This has to be enforced by Chief Tabor’s guys!!
2 – I think one other piece that is not being kept in mind is what to do about “drunk cars”. If someone has the smarts and wits to know they cannot drive, should we be towing and ticketing that car? I get the argument about students parking in the WAC lot, but there must be some relief for a responsible decision by a patron to one of our bars.
3 – I hope that the city is looking at some of the new parking technology like the meters with the ability to text to extend your time from you phone.
Andrew
November 30, 2009
What is with all the hate for students parking near the university? What would Dickson St. be without the university? Students park all around the university because the university gets to do whatever they want with their parking rates (a la churches on dickson).
A good way to solve the problem is to address the main consumer (ummm, students) and see what works best for them. Do jewelery stores (and their reserved parking ON the street) deserve more attention?
David Franks
December 1, 2009
Andrew–
Like it or not, the University provides parking on campus; there is also a rather good University transit system. The parking on Dickson is for the benefit of patrons of Dickson Street businesses, not for the convenience of overly-entitled students taking classes. The business owners– even the jewelers– pay taxes whether you shop with them or not. Look at it the other way: where would the University be without Dickson Street?
A good way to solve the problem would be for U of A students to raise hell with the administration about the way it rolls over for the legislature and increases student fees without improving the product or service. As for student input on the future of Dickson Street parking, I’ll trust Dickson Street business owners to take student needs into consideration. Their thoughts on the matter are sure to be more realistic.
David Franks
December 1, 2009
DicksonBizOwner–
The clarity you ask for is vital. Too many TIFs and similar mechanisms remain a complete mystery to the public, and are none too clear to the principals. Simply alleging that things will be improved is not enough, particularly as the Dickson Street area is such a complex blend of interests and uses.
If I can figure out which business you own, I’ll pop in– no beer required.
George
December 1, 2009
Yes, heh. I was referring to Austin’s 6th St. It’s easy as hell to get arrested on 6th St in Fayetteville. :0
To be clear, I still like Dickson St. I’d just prefer to keep it a little more on the skanky side. Maybe I need to start a group, “The Skanky Side of Dickson Street.”
You make good points, David. I’m just giving one citizen’s perspective…but what the hell do I know?
mpetty
December 1, 2009
Wow, conversation really picked up since I last looked at this. (@Flyer guys, I’m still waiting for the ability to subscribe to comments via email.)
Before I dive in with replies, I want to point out that the entire area surrounding the square has been paid parking for years. It’s still doing fine, and I would argue is finally entering a period of revitalization. First Thursday, Damgoode, Bliss Cupcakes, Opal Fly’s new place (yet to open). I know paid parking scares everyone, but this isn’t a crowded movie theatre and there is no fire.
@DicksonBizOwner – We really should sit down and talk about ways to make a good plan. Right now, we don’t have a plan, and we don’t have any policies either. All we’re doing now is trying to get input on how to make it work the best. We know doing nothing is not a smart choice (sorry to those who disagree), and we also know we can’t just steamroll bad legislation through. Let’s sit down and talk about how to do it right.
As far as the general activity level on Dickson goes, I’m going to hold up one of my favorite bars as an example of market forces. You may even be the owner of this bar, the Smoke and Barrel. S&B is consistently standing room only at least three nights each week. Why? Because they’re doing novel things that our community loves, like Connect Four tournaments and showing hyperlocal bands with no cover. If you compare S&B, a bar committed to our local culture, to a place like Stir, a bar committed only to helping people get stupid-drunk, it’s easy to see why many think Dickson has lost its character.
@Mullva – The next time I see #1, I’ll make sure to point it out to City Hall.
I’m as concerned about #2 as you are, and I’m trying to figure a way to mitigate it. What I’m thinking now is that there should be a night fee, not an hourly fee, and a grace period in the morning until 10am or something to give people time to get their cars before getting a ticket.
RE: #3 – We are, plus credit cards. For all of our paid parking, not just Dickson.
@Andrew – I haven’t read anything here that I would read as “hate” for students. All we’ve said is that students are consumers of parking spaces and they should have to pay along with everyone else. Can you agree that’s fair?
Todd Gill
December 1, 2009
OK, @mpetty, I’m giving this e-mail notification thing a try. Testing…
Todd Gill
December 1, 2009
OK, it’s working. Feel free to let us know about any bugs you encounter. Just check the “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail” if you want to subscribe.
mpetty
December 1, 2009
You are DA MAN! (In the good way, not the corporatism soul sucking way.)
Todd Gill
December 1, 2009
I don’t think it will notify you of your own comments, FYI. Haven’t done enough testing to be sure, though.
Offcamber
December 1, 2009
Jogging memory here.
A while back Gary Dumas had the idea to make all City lots $2-3 per hour to establish a “parking history” for bond application. I never understood what that meant, but he was shuffled right out the door when Jordan took office. I always figured you could quantify use with meter strips. Anyway, Dumas was out of the scene, and people were happy to hear the issue leave.
Then Jordan recently proposed giving the West Street lot – the largest public parking option on Dickson – to the Walton Arts Center to establish their own fee structure for their own profits. Of course, that was bunk favoritism, and would have left the WAC under no obligation to build more parking. I’m guessing the steam left this one?
So now we’re at the point where FayGov wants to charge for access to facilities with no upgrades or plans, discourage commerce, and *then* address infrastructure?
What are we circling here, plans to just make money or actually creating more parking spaces? To date, it has been *nothing* but talk of taking and not giving back. Show us the plan for the parking deck. If you’re going to grab the people’s money, give them something concrete. C’mon, FayGov.
burgerboy
December 1, 2009
Sound the death knell! 2 new CHAINS coming to Dickson this spring, per the NWArk Business journal. Big Momma’s Coffee House and Orange Tree Frozen Yogurt.
Actually, I’m pretty excited about both coming to town, especially Orange Tree. Its big in Hawaii and California. Not many locations nearby as far as I can tell.
We’re also getting Spiedini Italian Restaurant. All are going into Underwood Plaza building’s bottom floors.
Now, will South Fayetteville and the Mill District be reserved for Hippies, or will Hipsters be allowed, too? What about Republicans?
I think the gays should move in down there first. I’ve always been a little disappointed that we don’t have our own gay district. Makes ghettoization easier once President Huckabee gets into office.
burgerboy
December 1, 2009
Big Momma’s isn’t a real chain I guess. Here’s the website. Check out the video. It actually looks like it will fit right in. They are based out of Springfield, Mizzou.
http://www.bigmommascoffee.com/
burgerboy
December 1, 2009
They do theater, too! Ok, now I’m excited. Thank God someone built new faux historic space down there so we could experience some diverse new businesses.
http://www.bigmommascoffee.com/bptheatre/bptheatrehome.html
Milky
December 1, 2009
Well, I think that we have a pretty big hipster community down in the Mill District. Though it’s becoming difficult to differentiate between hipsters and homeless people.
A modest proposal
December 1, 2009
So, how about this? Create a parking plan. Does it include a parking garage or similar facility? Great. Now put together a bond issue. Put it up to the people and let them vote on it. It won’t be paid for by sales or property tax. The bond issue will be paid for by parking fees. (Kinda like a toll road.)
So, build the new parking amenities, whether that be a garage, high-density facility, whathaveyou. (For example: http://www.spacesaverparking.com/). Charge the fees, pay off the bond. No vague, badly planned ambiguous mumbo-jumbo. A real design, a real plan. Build it and pay for it like any other infrastructure project. Oh, and while you’re at it, eliminate the parallel parking on the street completely. It is nothing but a traffic hazard, and it’s too hard to manage. (see above comments regarding “drunk” cars)
Personally, I would be very leery of any plan that starts charging fees with no established, legally defined structure. Where do the “earmarked” part of the fees go? Into some kind of trust account that can’t be touched? I hope so.
Mr. Petty, the high-density parking design I think would be particularly attractive since it has a smaller impact in both development and operation. Keep it from becomming a commercial monstrosity like the ones on the University campus.
David Franks
December 1, 2009
Here’s that URL again:
http://www.spacesaverparking.com/
Offcamber
December 2, 2009
I also think moving up-density is a must. I would propose a mixed-use parking center with a facade containing mixed commercial and residential space. It could provide both visual relief and steady income (ding!).
Abandon these aimless nickle-and-dime proposals no one wants. It’s time to think outside the box. Literally, too. The parking solution doesn’t need to be another Walton Arts Center, which is a giant brick Happy Meal carton.
Make the new parking structure an opportunity to fix the parking problem, encourage new activity/commerce/revenue, and showcase Fayetteville’s aesthetic side with some architectural flair. Plan for the solution, not the fee schemes.
David Franks
December 2, 2009
A modest proposal and Offcamber–
Yea and verily.
burgerboy
December 2, 2009
I’d be even more ambitious by stipulating that the parking structure include mixed uses, but also:
The residential portion and commercial portions should be used as a kind of cultural center.
Make the retail portion gallery space, or discounted retail space for local entrepreneurs/restauranteurs.
Maybe make some of it performance space.
Make the residential portion geared towards artists. Have artists who’d like to live in the entertainment district apply for the units based on their work, projects, and artististic ambitions. Give them reduced rent on the property based on their impact on the local arts community. Perhaps part of their “rent” being that they staff a city owned gallery located in the retail portion, or volunteer, or collaborate on public art.
I’m going full hippie on y’all, but I think a city-owned, city-administered, pseudo-public arts collective could be done, and it would reall inject new life into Dickson and all of Fayetteville. Afterall, aren’t most aspiring artists the “starving” type?
Just like the Genesis center provides an incubator for industry and commerce in south Fayetteville, a parking structure/mixed use building could provide a city-administered incubator for the arts in Fayetteville.
Todd Gill
December 2, 2009
FYI, this issue was presented at last night’s council meeting and all three resolutions were approved.
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