Video: Cycling Community Speaks Against Downtown Parking Structure

A motion to move forward with plans for a five-story parking structure downtown was approved last night, but it wasn’t without disagreement among council as well as from members of the community.

Bicycle and environmental representatives were particularly vocal, as you can see in the video above.

The parking structure, which would sit between E, F, 3rd and 4th Streets, would likely cost the city more than $12 million in redevelopment funds. The 200-plus-space lot would cost about $49,000 per parking space.

Some in the community say there is no demonstrated need for the structure and that it flies in the face of the city’s desire to be energy efficient. Others, including Staff, say that the presence of a parking structure downtown could be a catalyst for future economic growth downtown, and that it’s worth looking beyond the immediate need.

The motion ultimately passed 3-2 (with Sue Greenwald and Joe Krovoza voting against it), but that doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.

It just means the City will continue negotiating with the Yackzan Group for development of the structure and they will begin the first schematic phase of the project’s design. That represents a cost of about $25,000, which will be split by the City and the Yackzan Group.