Sarasota Livin'

When I go downtown by myself on the weekends I am riding my bike. I think that is the best way to travel. Its an easy 10 minute ride. I can get anywhere and have no parking problems. But for the rest of you ... (and me and my family..) easy parking makes for an easy trip.

Land is very expensive so surface parking lots are getting to be out of the question and more importantly a waste of precious downtown streetscapes. That leaves parking garages. I agree with the new rules of the "downtown master plan" that street level should be for retail to keep the streets interesting. This means that parking needs to be above the first floor ... which means you have a building and most likely would have housing / commercial space to fill out the building.

Building a stand alone garage is "dumb" in my opinion... case in point...

Sarasota Herald Tribune article by Dale White

Parking garage price tag growing

The facility joins the judicial center on the list of county buildings with increased costs...
.......
"Firings appear unlikely, though, on the construction of the $8.2 million parking garage. Construction is set to begin in the next few months on the 516-space downtown facility, and it is expected to be completed in early 2006."

Parking garages are getting more and more expensive ... and most people feel that downtown Sarasota needs more parking. The City owns several parcels of land for that very purpose but has not gotten the ball rolling fast enough for many people. We the people need to understand that maybe the best way to build them is working with development that is happening already.

I for one like parking at "the Whole Foods parking garage". The City paid for a big portion of it and we can all park on the 2nd floor for free. It helps make it easy to go downtown when I know that if I don't find a spot on Main St I can cruise into that parking garage and get a spot any time I want.

The City has had much less luck with a proposed garage near the Opera House... maybe it will happen.

The next project coming may well be 600 more spaces as part of the Pineapple Square project. If the City and the developer can reach a "fair deal" it may be a good idea to get it done...

For those that drive downtown (most people) knowing you have a parking space waiting for you in the "center of everything" makes that trip much more pleasant.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think...