Has anyone heard any proposal for a commercial parking garage/retail development on N Front St before? I have…Oh yeah, I mentioned it quite a while ago.
The City of Kingston owns the two level parking lots on N Front which, on a single surface, offers a limited number of spaces. As a two or three story garage with retail in the front, you can better utilize the footprint.
So, even as recent as May, I posted options for a sale of the two properties to big names like Kinney, Pro-Park and Central Parking. All would gladly invest in the City of Kingston.
The structure, for whom ever submitted plans, would have the historic conforming look from the street and be a height more conducive to Stockade specifications than the Teicher Project did.
City Planner, Sue Cahill, has put out the "Request for Qualifications" or RFQ to all developers which informs all prospectors of the building stipulations in this district. The active effort to attract a developer to the other North Front Street site is new. The process will be through several meetings and deadlines from August to October. Which means nothing will break ground until the summer of 2009.
My point, in May’s posting, is that the City should get out of the off-street parking business. Leave the commercial parking management to those who would know better. If we continued as is, we would require personnel, maintenance, insurance, security and would remain off the tax rolls. A private company would provide the opposite.
Between my being the Parking Guru and Tom Hoffay being the reining Alderman of Ward two, I would have expected contact to either of us from the local daily paper regarding this issue. What happened? Perhaps a more detailed request from the local weekly?
6 comments:
If the new lot has a kiosk to buy time,it doesn't need an attendant,the money it generates could make it self sufficient.I was not in favor of meters but if we got them we need to enforce parking violatins.On any given weekday i can count about $500.00 in tickets at 20 bucks a pop,just uptown alone.we need enforcement in all three sections of the city on a daily bases,the revenue can offset the cost of man power.any way uptown needs a shot in the arm.The views from n.front are wonderful without the beast.Watch what happens in the fall when the leafs turn,that could be a big attraction.get rid of the planters that are falling apart,more curb cuts,most of all,get businesses that attract foot traffic,i was uptown sat.,late afternoon and it was dead.The joint should be jumpin.anyway i'm just venting now,have a good day
I think the prudent move would be to hold off on any parking facility until you see how many members of the community can afford to pay property and school taxes with the ability to own a car and/or shop uptown.
Just a jokers gamble Mike, I would definitely start getting prices on bike racks and don't forget to include meters on them...smitty
Isn't the City saving expenses equal to the lost revenues since the garage closed - we were told the garage was break-even at best(this is of course because we didn't spend on needed maintenance)?
Maybe the press needs a lesson on cost accounting?
Your idea (in collusion with some others, no doubt) has merit - and I think I'd prefer development to simply charging fees (I hate that!) for uptown parking.
Tell us more, when you can, about proposals that are being put forth...
Certainly anything that moves into Kingston right now needs to be on the low end (cost wise) for the people - but if the city and the developers - and the folks that know the demographics around here were to put their heads together on this - something really good (jobs; tax revenue; alternative forms of entertainment; etc. could result!
I would personally love to see a huge secular development that rents out large rooms for a reasonable fee for community meetings, events, etc...
But that is just one idea out of many...
Speak up folks! Some good brainstorming could wind up with some great results!
N.S.
the city did a survey of ideas for the old garage site,i think another survey should be done to see what could be added uptown,or removed,but leave the new lot the way it is.YA NEVER KNOW
The City will undoubtedly be able to somehow give money to the Good Ol Boyz in the name of helping taxpayers - at the trough ready to lap it up again - Zweben, Oliveri, Aaron, Jordan, etc...
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