Dahl, round 3
Here is some more good thinking about the Dahl issue.
I's really like to hear what all of you on this blog think
now that most if the information has come in.
Spin, do you still feel the same way?
I's really like to hear what all of you on this blog think
now that most if the information has come in.
Spin, do you still feel the same way?
posted by Bill Fleming at 11:45 AM
1 Comments:
Good questions, Ida.
It seems like the city may be looking a $3million+ gift horse in the mouth.
Why walk away from that kind of funding?
It really does seem like the cost to the city will be the same either way –
perhaps more over time as the costs to maintain both facilities stack up.
The other key issue seems to be location. The Dahl group wants to stay downtown.
Others seem to want to move everything away from downtown, closer to the Civic Center
and the Journey Museum.
So, to your list, I would add “Is this really all just about parking space?”
Comment by bill fleming — 4/16/2005 @ 12:45 pm
33.
Parking: Both plans claim to have similar numbers of spaces close to their door, something like 300 spaces within two blocks of either building. That’d make it a draw on the numbers, unless someone is lying?
Both plans will have to share parking with other events and facilities.
Journey site — 2 points for convenience here go to the Journey site, no doubt. Initially at least, parking would be better at the Journey. 300 nice, big, empty spaces, virtually unused. As long as the Journey continues to fail.
On the other hand, what if three years from now the Journey were regularly holding successful events? Which all taxpayers fervently hope happens, except maybe people who covet their parking lot. That lot might be filled regularly, say five years from now. Minus 1 point for having a definite, limited number of spaces.
Or would the City be willing to limit the Journey - not to do larger evening events on weekends or Sunday afternoons, for instance, for the next 15 years - because it will cause parking congestion for their neighbors? Maybe build a parking ramp when two or three other buildings join the Journey?
Dahl site — Subtract one point for inconvenience. In case of parking congestion near the Dahl, people will need to park another block (maybe more) from the Dahl.
Sure, I know that downtown audiences park and walk to fill the 600-seat Elks theater regularly. I know I’ve parked in Denver and walked five blocks to large-facility events. But Rapid City arts audiences are used to events in facilities that are so small they can always park almost at the front door.
I wonder how long it would take those audiences to get used to walking a block or more to a big event? They do it at the mall and the civic center, but will they do it downtown?
Could any event or combination of events actually take up all of the available parking within two or three blocks of the Dahl? Add two bonus points for having almost unlimited parking within walking distance, no parking ramp necessary.
On big nights for unwilling/unable-to-walk audiences, the Dahl could have step-on bus service from one of the new parking ramps funded by 2012. Eliminates the parking issue for the Dahl, and ensures some night time use at the ramps. Win-win.
Seriously, does anyone think the City Council is giving much weight to this argument? Will Council members really decide on a huge public building project based on this issue?
Comment by Ida Seenthat — 4/16/2005 @ 6:39 pm
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