SELL THE UPTOWN PARKING LOTS

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?

CVS: THE PHARMACY INVASION

Did you think I would let Tom Hoffay and AnnMarie DiBella get the only press on this? When the Walgreens on Broadway is finally complete, we will be saturated. Drug Store saturated.

Sure, the general population is getting older, but this is overkill.

Jim, we need to excite the masses with a multi-modal transportation hub, right here within our city limits. Our only two choices are the former parking garage and this corner next to Trailways. (pictured above)

With City Bus, UCAT and the Commercial bus companies all focused on one location, the service will increase in efficiency and that will be the draw. Convenience to our Uptown Business District will be a plus, and frankly, anything we do with that Washington Ave corridor would be an improvement.

The State Grant for traffic flow from the Traffic Circle to Lucas Ave. is still in the works and must include this corner of development.

Granted; Utility Platers has been dormant for years and the Diagnostic Center has been screaming to be developed since they moved. But why a CVS? Do we really need another CVS? I know we need more commercial tax base to help with revenue, but just how many Pharmacies do we need?

On that note: The former Sheriff HQ on Schwenk Drive, is now Ulster Federal Credit Union. It’s on the tax rolls! Wait, I'll say it again...It's on the tax rolls!

When fully assessed, it will bring in the same revenue as the CVS proposed for Wash Ave, Who knew?

So lets slow down, look at the big picture, and have patience with the state’s traffic research. It will happen.

UPTOWN PARKING: BY THE NUMBERS

This beautiful piece of uptown real estate can be yours for just…

Check out the finished product of the Arold Paving Company. A fine accomplishment where a crumbling “disaster in waiting” parking garage once stood.

I admit, I had my concerns about the experience of several of the companies that bid on the demolition, but let the pictures show, the end product looks good.

You will notice the numbered spaces. Those are numbered for a reason. The city will not handle the collection of funds the way they had in the past. This time it will be automated.

A parking Kiosk will be installed where individuals can manage their own private transaction for their designated space. No city hall visits and no space confusion.

Unlike the parking meters, parking lots have a funneled point of exit. Like train and bus terminals as well as the UC Office Building, people culminate at a focus point where an easy financial exchange is handled privately. Although not scheduled until next year, the meters have the capacity to handle “smart card” transactions. This soon-to-be Kiosk will be card ready on day one.

Now where are those stairs?

PARKING GARAGE: COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Everyone knows the uptown parking garage is coming down. With only minor engineering delays, the demolition is right on schedule and without injuries.

With the space cleared of debris, we will soon have a large open hole with temporary parking at the ground level. Not the best outcome, but temporary.

My suggestion: (as if anyone is listening) Once the land is cleared, offer the property to one of the large Parking Garage Managing Companies that operate as a “for profit” business. Any one of them would operate such a facility better than the City of Kingston.

This is Prime Real Estate people! A huge piece of commercial property located in the heart of the business district up-town and it’s off the tax rolls! Anyone out there think we need to build our tax base?

From North Front St to Schwenk Drive, the land is perfectly situated to offer the optimum parking location. I am sure that any interested company would offer designs to provide Retail on the upper level and architectural themes to compliment the city.

Big names like KINNEY, CENTRAL PARKING, and PRO-PARK would be a good place to start.
To take out the issues of building maintenance, employee benefits, insurance, and security, for the shot in the arm in additional tax revenue, what are we waiting for? Do I have to put this out to public referendum in November?

I suggested this sale of the Garage about three years ago, with little or no interest. What a shame.

Now that the drama of demolition is almost past, lets prepare for the future of our city. Ask your representative to seek a qualified private parking company for the better use of this prime commercial property.

Kinney System, Inc (Kinney Parking) - New York, New York (NY) Company Profile

Parking Lots and Garages - Parking Management Services Company - Parking Lot a

Central Parking : Our Business

PARKING GARAGE BID PROCESS

Last Thursday afternoon, I attended a meeting at City Hall regarding Bids for the demolition of the Uptown Parking Garage. The three lowest bidders were invited to make a final presentation.

Company owners David Kornel of KC Sunshine, Garry Arold of Arold Paving, and Joe Vendetti of RPC took turns in the hot seat before a room of City officials and Department heads.

Following a list of concerns for each owner, I was most impressed with Vendetti and his depth of knowledge regarding the type of pre-stressed concrete structure we are dealing with.



Joe offered everyone a bound Corporate Profile which brought to light a plethora of issues that hadn’t been discussed before as well

With an astounding record of demolition experience and a national rating of 25th biggest demolition company in the country, I would place my faith in Ritter & Paratore Company (RPC) to remove the Parking Garage safely and timely.

Mind you, there is the issue of RPC presenting a bid $40K higher than Arold, but since RPC is simply a Demolition Company and not a sub-set of a paving company, I’ll go with safety and experience.



However; I am not the Mayor and I am friends with noone.
And possibly fewer friends when Im done.

Garage photo courtesy of Ulster County Politics