I can pretty much agree with this entire post. I'm not complaining so long as they bury the parking or put the parking inside the condo towers that way the land is being used to it's fullest potential.Ihnen wrote:I really like the free parking idea. Not only is it probably a necessity in St. Louis since every major shopping center has free parking, it's simply about convenience. I recognize the 'if you build it they will come' thinking surrounding parking, highways, etc., but I would say the opposite is true as well - if you don't build it, they won't come. My hope is for a vibrant, active downtown. To accomplish this, people must be accomodated. Some will use metro - some will walk/ride bikes/scooters, but downtown StL is not going to become the Upper East Side. As several have pointed out, there's a right way and wrong way to do this - at the minimum parking must be hidden within the complex, but I'm hoping it's underground. I think street parking is a necessity as well- it brings the street to life and connects it with surrounding blocks. Otherwise BPV will be an introverted complex.
And the entire reason for tax credits from the city is so the developer can do things that the market does not demand, such and place all parking underground or in building. I say is they want to build stand alone garages in such a high profile and high potential urban area, then they can do it without tax credits. I'm all for some credits as long as the city gets something in return.
Not to mention that gawdawful Redbird Fever song...
