2008 Woodie Awards
Parking crunch
Kelli Shaffner - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
The Iowa City City Councilors discussed the imminent need for additional parking downtown in a special work session Monday.
Bob Miklo, a senior city planner, said that there was a dire need - an estimated 1,000 spots - for parking right now, and he noted that parking demand would increase if Iowa City keeps growing as it has.
He estimated a three-year timeline for planning and construction of a new facility.
Miklo said he had some possible locations in mind, but he wanted to discuss them with the council at a later date.
Many councilors agreed a proposed parking garage would be advantageous for ensuring that downtown continues to thrive.
Several councilors said they supported the garage and the idea to incorporate artists' live/work units downtown.
During his PowerPoint presentation to the councilors, Miklo said additional spaces would give opportunities to increase "workforce housing" - housing specifically aimed at citizens whose economic status is considered lower to middle class - artists' live/work units, and commercial condos.
Councilor Regenia Bailey said she sees this as an opportunity to have those units and said she has talked with others who "wonder why Iowa City doesn't have [these]."
Councilor Bob Elliott joked that if Bailey was in favor of a parking garage, then the council was "home free."
Miklo gave foot traffic, music and entertainment, and additional businesses as possible positive results if there were more artist live/work units.
"If we're trying to bring in the creative culture, then we've got to have those type of features," he said.
Elliott recommended that downtown business owners not be kept in the dark.
"Talk with employers, especially those that would be affected by housing [because of additional parking] in the downtown area," he said. "Don't leave employers out."
Miklo gave the Tower Place and the Court Street Transportation Center as his examples of the past "successful" parking endeavors: Tower Place is running successfully and the Court Street Transportation Center is no longer available for public parking. The city has a "conservative" estimate of 200-300 people waiting for parking at the Transportation Center.
Councilor Connie Champion asked if it would be feasible for the proposed parking units to be underground, but Miklo said the option of going above ground was "so much less expensive."
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
Bob Miklo, a senior city planner, said that there was a dire need - an estimated 1,000 spots - for parking right now, and he noted that parking demand would increase if Iowa City keeps growing as it has.
He estimated a three-year timeline for planning and construction of a new facility.
Miklo said he had some possible locations in mind, but he wanted to discuss them with the council at a later date.
Many councilors agreed a proposed parking garage would be advantageous for ensuring that downtown continues to thrive.
Several councilors said they supported the garage and the idea to incorporate artists' live/work units downtown.
During his PowerPoint presentation to the councilors, Miklo said additional spaces would give opportunities to increase "workforce housing" - housing specifically aimed at citizens whose economic status is considered lower to middle class - artists' live/work units, and commercial condos.
Councilor Regenia Bailey said she sees this as an opportunity to have those units and said she has talked with others who "wonder why Iowa City doesn't have [these]."
Councilor Bob Elliott joked that if Bailey was in favor of a parking garage, then the council was "home free."
Miklo gave foot traffic, music and entertainment, and additional businesses as possible positive results if there were more artist live/work units.
"If we're trying to bring in the creative culture, then we've got to have those type of features," he said.
Elliott recommended that downtown business owners not be kept in the dark.
"Talk with employers, especially those that would be affected by housing [because of additional parking] in the downtown area," he said. "Don't leave employers out."
Miklo gave the Tower Place and the Court Street Transportation Center as his examples of the past "successful" parking endeavors: Tower Place is running successfully and the Court Street Transportation Center is no longer available for public parking. The city has a "conservative" estimate of 200-300 people waiting for parking at the Transportation Center.
Councilor Connie Champion asked if it would be feasible for the proposed parking units to be underground, but Miklo said the option of going above ground was "so much less expensive."
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
neffybce
posted 11/27/07 @ 8:07 AM CST
Is this some sick joke?! More parking downtown? Really? The parking lot next to city hall and the transportation parking lot are all but empty any time of the day or night. (Continued…)
Ofer
posted 11/27/07 @ 11:39 AM CST
I've been to many meetings and tons of time are wasted discussing parking.
What we need is a carshare system. Check this out. It is AMAZING!!!
www. (Continued…)
John
posted 11/27/07 @ 3:38 PM CST
Rather than spending money on more parking, why don't we spend more on public transit? Expanded hours and...imagine...Sunday service are needed more than some new parking garage. (Continued…)
marcia
posted 11/29/07 @ 1:19 PM CST
Rather than continuing to worry about parking, Iowa City should work to make the community bicycle-friendly. The University of Wisconsin in Madison puts the U of I to shame. (Continued…)
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