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Community thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted July 30, 2007 at 1:02 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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Saturday’s Wichita EAGLE had a front page article, “Study: City Has Enough Parking” … for the downtown arena. Good example of the EAGLE’s spin, dance, dodge, duck and double-talk about the downtown arena.
Most people who spend time downtown recognize the fact that parking is already at a premium if you wish to go to the library, visit City Hall, visit the Courthouse or other reasons to go downtown.
One of the major reasons for success of suburban office building parks (notice emphasis on “parks”) is provision of lots of parking around the office buildings for convenience of employees and visitors.
A glaring problem with the EAGLE’s article is the assumption that THREE PEOPLE ON AVERAGE ride cars to arena events. Actually about TWO PEOPLE PER CAR drive to meeting and arena activities, sometimes one, sometimes three or more, but average of two per car.
On this basis, the parking requirement for the downtown arena should be:
Event size Parking required
4,000 attendees: 2,000 spaces8,000 attendees: 4,000 spaces15,000 attendees: 7,500 spaces
THESE PARKING SPACES SHOULD NOT BE “BORROWED” FROM OTHER DOWNTOWN PROPERTY-OWNERS ON THE THEORY THEY DON’T NEED THEM ANYWAY.
AND ALL ARENA PARKING SHOULD BE ON SURFACE LEVEL FOR NIGHT TIME SECURITY AND ABILITY TO HANDLE SURGES OF IN/OUT VISITORS.
Obviously the best solution is STOP the downtown arena until a solution can be found for the parking problem.
It is too bad that for so many years we have become so car-dependant. If Wichita were even a little transit-oriented then this oculd be solved via shuttle buses.
For years I have suggested that they use shuttle buses from remote sites to River Festival weekend days/nights. This might serve to introduce residents to the idea of transit as an alternative; even if only occassional. But, to no avail …
Somebody’s going to have a lot of explaining to do when the arena parking issue blows up in our faces. Obviously we’re not going to have any arena events during the day…the usual downtown business will take 95% of downtown parking. On weekend evenings, Old Town will take up a lot of parking spaces.
Somebody’s either stupid or they’re lying.
XXX,
Or both.
I found it interesting that the old Knightley’s (Nightleys?) parking garage was apparently involved in the survey. It’s my understanding that the upper levels are totally off-limits, as the garage was never designed to be “self service”, and there is needed a substantial capital input to make it so. Wonder if only the street level was considered, and if so, the fact that the owner will want compensated by those wishing to park there.
As the years go on having the Arena downtown, there will be alterations to businesses located in that zone, relocation may have to occur to create arena parking.
Mayor Brewer, days after election said he hoped to create a financing package for new parking garage.
So there is one City official wanting to make a difference in that area.
The County has Arena parking issues and both governments have to partner affording the downtown parking costs together.
Some point to the County saying they promised a parking garage with the Arena vote. Okay, when its built and where is undetermined.
Nothing should stop the Arena unless its a redraw to create more seats to 18,000 for basketball. That wouldn’t don’t take too long at all. Couple of weeks fiddling with the drawings.
I’m hoping for that pause, some corporate has to partner in the Arena.
Anything can happen, as we see with the Casino vote. For years no one believed that was ever going to happen. A crazy election had to get rid legislators and obstructionist politicians. Months later, here we are.
Things can change overnight and parking improvements downtown are allowed to happen over the future years.
With time to move and its a agreeable cost, some business will relocate without arguing too much. They don’t want the headache of Arena parking in their lot.
Big expansive parking lots downtown aren’t the goal. Those surface parking lots should be used more often than just for Arena events. Some business will gladly share those parking lots rest of the time.
It’s a challenge for the governments to provide parking, people won’t complain about.
“a financing package for new parking garage.”
I have a financing package. Use that. It is the $19.4 million plus another 9 million promised in the “VoteYea!” campaign.
It is not the responsibility of City taxpayers to underwrite the County’s arena.
If the City wants to pay for a new parking garage within the zone of Arena parking, they have their reasons to do it.
It’s not a garage just for Arena parking.
More taxpayer money for private purposes. They should allow us to vote on any additional revenues if they want it for their arena.
Joint Meeting of City Council, Design Council, Airport Board
Date: July 30, 2007
“The schematic design for a new airline terminal at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport will be reviewed Friday during a joint meeting of the Wichita City Council, Design Council and Airport Advisory Board.
The meeting is scheduled from 11 AM to 1 PM in the 10th floor conference room of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission at City Hall, 455 N. Main.”
“a redraw to create more seats to 18,000 for basketball”
Hey, i know an easy way to do that… Get rid of the 11,000 sq ft of VIP Box space. Removing thoes, would allow for almost 2,000 more seats in the arena bowl.
Mrage - you should get right onto doing that redraw. Not MY job.
A new microsite for the Keeper of the Plains Plaza and Arkansas River Corridor Project has been launched to answer the many questions that have been asked about this important project. The microsite, which is accessed from the City of Wichita’s main website of http://www.wichita.gov, will be a destination for those that want to know more about the project background. The direct address is: http://www.wichita.gov/Residents/Keeper/
Included in the microsite will be a Walking Tour where you can learn the project details. You can also print out a text-only version to take with you when you visit the site. There is also general information regarding hours of operation, and guidelines for use of the area. Plus, visitors can read interviews conducted with the key people involved in the project to learn what it took to make it happen, and what was in mind when they created it. Also, if you missed the dedication ceremony, you can read the speeches that were given at the event and see photos from the evening’s activities.
Additional Keeper Items to Note:
HOURS OF OPERATION: Like all public attractions, the Keeper of the Plains Plaza and surrounding area will be closed to the public during the hours of midnight until 5 AM.
RING OF FIRE HOURS: The Keeper of the Plains “Ring of Fire” will burn the following schedule during the months of Daylight Savings Time:
*
Friday & Saturday nights: 9 PM, 10 PM and 11 PM for 15 minutes for each burn.*
Sunday through Thursday nights: 9 PM and 10 PM for 15 minutes for each burn.
Once Daylight Savings Time goes away, typically in late October, the burn hours will be:
*
Friday & Saturday nights: 7 PM and 8 PM for 15 minutes for each burn.*
Sunday through Thursday nights: 7 PM for 15 minutes for each burn.
For added public safety, the firepots are manually turned on. All schedules are weather depending, including river levels. Firepots will not be turned on in high winds, rain or other inclement weather. If the river is too high, or if a person is too close to the firepots, they will not be turned on.