Downtown parking

[BKDotCom]

pretty fluffly piece in the TW

Support for more downtown Tulsa parking garages rises
http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Support_for_more_downtown_Tulsa_parking_garages_rises/20130710_11_A1_Severa792198

Several members of the Tulsa City Council Capital Improvements Program Task Force indicated support for the construction of multiple parking garages in downtown Tulsa during its meeting Tuesday.

"The question isn't parking garages or no parking garages," councilor Blake Ewing said. "Parking garages are kind of a critical next step for downtown. It's not necessarily more advanced planning but prioritization. (Lack of) Parking keeps people from coming downtown."

On Tuesday, Williams Co. director of corporate real estate George Shahadi said the establishment of parking garages is a top priority for the Downtown Coordinating Council.

"It will ignite developers, whether residential or retail, because this is one item they don't have to take care of themselves," he said.

The DCC has asked the City Council for funding for downtown housing, one-way to two-way street conversion, and streetscapes and sidewalks with every two-way conversion, which would comprise $32.07 million of the more than $919 million proposed capital improvements package, according to the task force's most recent draft released Tuesday.

The council will vote on a nonbinding consensus to present to voters during town hall meetings on Thursday, and the council passed a similar agreement last week allocating a proposed $470 million for street repairs. Councilors on Thursday are expected to finalize a list of proposed capital improvement projects that they will present in public meetings in the coming weeks.

Councilor Phil Lakin said proposed parking garages, which will be operated by the Tulsa Parking Authority, are one of few revenue-generating items in the city's capital needs package. Nearly 72 percent of the package is dedicated to transportation-related expenses such as streets, pedestrians, public transit and bicycles, he said.

"I also wonder if ... we can make it among the first projects to generate revenue toward other DCC-related priorities," he said. "There aren't very many other projects on this list that have a revenue piece to them, so we've got to use that revenue piece to our advantage."

DCC manager Tom Baker said money for two desired parking garages - $26 million of the DCC's current proposed allotment - will go toward operation of the garages, maintenance, special repairs and bond services.

"We don't make a lot of money but we cover all of our expenses and do as many of the special repairs as we can," he said. "You need this to kick start some development. Maintaining the heart of this region is critical to the success of the whole area."

The DCC would not disclose the possible locations for the parking garages, but Ewing said there are five viable spots in the downtown area.

"(Tulsa Community College) sits in the middle of surface parking on literally every side," he said. "If you solve the problem in the TCC area, that opens up residential opportunities."

In addition to the TCC area, Ewing said he would like to see parking garages near East Village and the Performing Arts Center, as well as in the Brady District and in the core of the central business district.

"The Brady District one is already funded, but those other four are ones I think people most often talk about," he said. "The one in the Brady (District) is needed. The ones further away from the core (of downtown) are good for activating new residential and retail development."

Lakin and Baker said the DCC's desire not to publicize the potential locations could open up development opportunities throughout the whole downtown area.

"They want to be a little bit nimble in the words they use with us regarding location because they don't know necessarily where retailers or businesses will want those garages," he said. "They're trying to use the parking garages as a catalyst to create housing, retail and other commercial opportunities."

Councilor G.T. Bynum said he fully expects the parking garage proposal and the other agenda items discussed Tuesday, ranging from an off-site animal welfare facility to the format of the capital improvement town hall meetings, to be brought back up for discussion on Thursday.

[sgrizzle]

Spot #4 I think should be highest priority, then #1.

Not sure where #2 would go, and #3 is a hard sell. Not sure the point of #5. If they built it I would take pictures. Parking garage in an island of little more than parking.

[carltonplace]

Spot #4 I think should be highest priority, then #1.

Not sure where #2 would go, and #3 is a hard sell. Not sure the point of #5. If they built it I would take pictures. Parking garage in an island of little more than parking.

Yep, number 4 makes the most sense because it will free up so much surface parking for development in an area that is already developing. I hope these discussions about parking garages include building garages that don't look like garages and are multi-use structures.

[Townsend]

I hope these discussions about parking garages include building garages that don't look like garages and are multi-use structures.

+1

I'd like the $31,000,000 proposed for the 81st to 91st Yale expansion diverted to this.  That'd pretty much take care of the cost.

If they can't do that, use it to bury the lines in South Tulsa and let the damned trees grow normally.  (off subject, I know)

[SXSW]

Wish we could somehow add the parking and also create a green space at 3rd/2nd & Cincinnati/Detroit.  It's a great spot for Blue Dome festivals, Mayfest, etc and could create more demand for mixed-use residential around it.  Plus the skyline view there is awesome.  Something like this wouldn't even be *as* expensive because of the natural slope of the site.  Something like this with entrances and exits on 2nd..

[cannon_fodder]

Is there really a parking shortage?  My garage is now 1/3 empty with Cimarex new tower and parking.  PAC is mostly evening and has City Hall parking, Hyatt parking, BOK parking, and Main Parking mall as well as hundreds of surface/street parking - all within 3 blocks.

Brady has much the same.

If I this needed for development, so be it. And structured parking is waaaaaay better than surface.  But I do not want to help subsidize American parkings next revenue source and/or someone's parking lot.

[davideinstein]

Parking isn't the issue. A lack of public transportation is. If you want to go big, you invest in a light rail system.

[custosnox]

Is there really a parking shortage?  My garage is now 1/3 empty with Cimarex new tower and parking.  PAC is mostly evening and has City Hall parking, Hyatt parking, BOK parking, and Main Parking mall as well as hundreds of surface/street parking - all within 3 blocks.

Brady has much the same.

If I this needed for development, so be it. And structured parking is waaaaaay better than surface.  But I do not want to help subsidize American parkings next revenue source and/or someone's parking lot.

I think the only time parking becomes an issue is when there are events, and then it's not so much that there isn't enough, it's that every parking garage in a semi-close vicinity to the event suddenly feels the need to charge $25 for parking.  Why is it in other businesses this is called gouging, but with parking, it's just par for the course?

[BKDotCom]

And not to mention all the full-time downtown workers parking in on-street parking... which only makes it hard for visitors to find a space a perpetuates the "no parking" myth,

[TheArtist]

There is pleeeeenty of parking already.  A fraction of what they are thinking of spending on parking garages directed to transit (that includes signage and "public service/education/info" about transit, where to park, where the "trolley" runs, times, etc.) would make all the difference in many respects.

I remember the interview of the guy in the Brady Arts who owns the chocolate store there.  He was saying that people were complaining that there needed to be more parking. He said what was needed was a new parking garage and pointed down the street saying it should be on the edge of downtown.  I was in Brady the other day and you can look right to the south and just across the tracks, RIGHT THERE in plane sight, and there are huge parking garages available for use that sit empty most of the time (even during festivals) which are CLOSER to where the crowds are going than many of the proposed new parking garages are. (If we are not using the parking we have thats closer now, why would we use new parking that's farther away?) And even those parking garages that do exist further away, and the ample surface parking, would be readily accessible with good transit... at less cost and with better; economic/pedestrian friendly, development encouraging/friendly, results.  You could both upgrade the transit to better use the parking we already have and add more money for downtown housing with the same money they would spend on parking garages.

[SXSW]

And not to mention all the full-time downtown workers parking in on-street parking... which only makes it hard for visitors to find a space a perpetuates the "no parking" myth,

Raising the rates to $1/hour (with a 2 hour limit) and actively policing the meters would solve this problem.

[Red Arrow]

Raising the rates to $1/hour (with a 2 hour limit) and actively policing the meters would solve this problem.

A two hour limit, a reasonably significant fine and actively policing the meters would probably work as well or better.

Edit:

What is the average surface parking lot monthly charge?
What is the average parking garage monthly charge?

[RecycleMichael]

I pay $85 a month for each of my employees to park at 2nd and Boulder in a parking garage. There is a surface parking lot across the street that wants $75 a month.

[Red Arrow]

I pay $85 a month for each of my employees to park at 2nd and Boulder in a parking garage. There is a surface parking lot across the street that wants $75 a month.

Thanks.

At  9 to 10 hr/day and 22 days/mo, $85/mo for the garage would be about $.40/hr.  No reason to raise on street parking to $1hr.  Just stick a fine on the on street parking for exceeding a reasonable time limit.

[rdj]

Building a garage across from the PAC would unlock the rest of that block for development.  Also will better connect the Central Business District/Deco District to the Blue Dome.  The former Griffin Communications/KOTV building has been purchased by a civic minded investor group and will be converted to office space.  That will also help begin to bridge the gap between the two areas.