Parking Garage Demolition

 

This seems to be a logical move for several reasons:

1) yearly upkeep/utility costs are approx. $100,000

2) little to no parking demand exists downtown currently, at least not enough that it can't be handled with existing lots

3) the garage is an eyesore that divides downtown now that the mall is removed, limiting access to the YMCA, Manchester Hotel, City building, and Arts center

4) many people don't think the garage is safe, suggesting crime occurs within

 

There are also a few concerns:

1) the initial cost in more than $1 million, a big number for a cash-strapped city

2) the fate of the remaining property. Will the city plant grass? Will we get more parking lots downtown? Development is years away.

3) exposing the rear of buildings on the north side of central. Many of these buildings have service and loading areas that are not very attractive, perhaps uglier than the garage. The Dohn's building is actually built into the garage.

 

All-in-all, I think demolition is the best alternative. It will make Middletown seem less cosmopolitian though. Go down to Hamilton and they have two parking garages downtown. Even Uptown Oxford has a parking garage. We also just lost a parking garage at the Middletown hospital site, so this maybe the last one in the entire city.

 

wasteful wrote:  Support, thank you for my morning laugh.  I got a real kick out of the Cosmopolitian comment.

Wasteful, you and I rarely agree but on this you are very correct!

SupportMiddletown wrote: It will make Middletown seem less cosmopolitian though.

Support, what is the Potential of Middletown? Please tell me. I see NO potential. All I ever do on this site is to try to promote reasonableness and help push the Idea of allowing Middletown the dignity of a respectful Death. Trying to "save" Middletown is a pipe Dream. There is nothing to save! Demographics and poor Regional Development  Planning (poor in the sense that long term consequences were NOT considered) has made it impossible for Middletown to ever again be any thing but a nice Hamlet (if we do it right!).

As to your reference to Hamilton and Oxford having Parking Garages, MU is obvious for Oxford and "County Seat" should also speak for Hamilton. Without the County Business being done in Hamilton , it would be much worse and look more like Middletown.

I realize the you mean well and all, but people like you don't realize that you are just putting off the enevitable and providing encouragement to waste City Funds that could be used to bring about the Dignity I have hopes for.

My answer for Downtown? Demo it ALL and then sell the land to the highest bidder. If we end up with Residential homes on Central in the former DT area, that would be much better than continuing to subsidize non-viable Businesses that only survive with City or HUD Funding!