Parking deck debate: your comments

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The recent flap over Ashvegas City Council’s proposed parking deck has some people commenting. It’s a good debate, one that I didn’t want to get lost. So here goes:

From Edgy Mama:
Okay, I, too, support in-fill. It’s much healthier in the long-term than sprawl, both environmentally and economically. Yet, it has to be done with care – goals should include: 1) protecting and enhancing existing historic structures; and, 2) not detracting from the quality of life of affected residents. I think the latter issue is the primary concern with the parking deck.

Yes, the local media has been covering this for years. And we’re learning that the Fourth Estate needs to be more interactive in today’s world. People get their news from a variety of sources (including blogs). We can’t expect them to follow multiple outlets as closely as some of us do, so, the question is, at what point does the media have a responsibility to get face to face with folks and say, “Look what’s about to happen.”? That’s an entire column in itself.

We also know it takes imminient change to spur people to action (I’m not going to go into my “humans suck at long-term planning” spiel here – you’ve heard it before). So, yes, build the parking deck. Stop spending our taxes waffling. But, the affected residents should have been pulled in years ago. Because the minor changes that should be instituted at this point could have been addressed a long time ago, saving money, time, and angst in the process.

Do we have to wrap the deck around the Battery Park building so it blocks out the light and air from retired, and often, immobile, residents? Are there alternatives? I haven’t delved deeply into the planning and design, so I don’t know what’s already been researched and rejected. I do think, however, that listening to the residents of the building, actually hearing them, is important. Because what I want our city to be known for is her strength and beauty and compassion; I want Asheville to be known as a place that supports and upholds its constituents and their quality of life.

Now I’m getting all teary, so I’ll stop.

Catnap:
Here, here. I hope it will fit in better with existing buildings better than that black box. Looks to me like a deliberate plan to decieve. Now, it would suck to have a back room in the Battery Park during construction, and maybe afterwards, but as you said, this has not been a secret.

syntax:
i like the way they used hot wheels cars to further illustrate their point…
i’d personally like to see more parking downtown instead of more exclusive, unaffordable housing.

Edgy Mama (from a day or two ago):
Oh, Ash, did you just agree with Carl on something? Wow. Okay.
I’m taking a deep breath. I’m re-reading your well-written argument. Trying not to burst into tears of betrayal. Damn, you have some good points here. Okay, okay, I’m with you. But I’m still not with Carl.