Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Proposed Asheville parklet images via Downtown Asheville Facebook group
OPEN (Outreach Projects Engaging Neighborhoods) Asheville seeks financial support for its plan to convert two downtown parking spaces by Hip Replacements and Izzy’s into little parks offering seating and greenery.
Learn more here:
From the effort’s Indiegogo fundraising campaign:
The Lexington Parklet (to be located in front of Hip Replacements Boutique and Izzy’s Coffee Den), will serve as a community gathering place, alleviating sidewalk pedestrian traffic, by providing a place to recreate while waiting to be seated at nearby restaurants, and offering a place to enjoy the sights and sounds of Asheville’s downtown activities. The Parklet has the potential to bring vitality to downtown areas, through bolstering local business and fostering community. The Lexington Parklet will support positive cultural tourism and add a much needed public commons to our bustling “Main Street.”
To meet the Aug. 31st installation deadline, we have a fantastic team of local designers, architects, and artists. These talented folks have been donating their time and energy to bring the Parklet design into fruition, but we now need your financial support to aquire the needed materials and give birth to this new public offering.
With Your Help
Our financial goal of $5500 will be stretched as far as possible and your tax deductible donations will be put to good use, for:
Building Materials and Supplies
Permiting and City fees
Printing Services
Office Supplies
From your generous support, everyone will benefit…Local Artists and Designers get to showcase their work, we the public have a new place in the collective commons, to connect and share with each other, and our unique, small businesses are helped to thrive.
Campaign link here.
There’s two loading zone spaces there. Is this where they want to go?
Is it just me or does $5,500 for a parking spot park seem absurd? Unless of course, someone needs to be feeding the meter the whole time, which in case $5,500 will buy you about 91 weeks of parking time.
Hi Barry-
Thank you for your comments. The fundraising goal for the Lexington Parklet is based on City fees covering the cost of the meter revenue lost, permits and misc. fees, and the cost of building materials.
All design work and building is being done pro bono by volunteers.
I hope this clarifies things a bit for you. Please feel free to contact me to discuss this further, as we at OPEN have everyone’s best interests in mind.
Visit http://www.openAsheville.org for more information.
Meka
This is crazy bad!! There are not enough parking spots downtown already….to give up more is insane! Why are you punishing the businesses on Lexington?? Bad decision!
Hi- Just to let you know, there is a new walkway opening up across the street from the proposed Parklet, that will serve as a direct route from the Rankin Garage to Lexington Ave.
Also, Parklets are not a new thing, San Francisco Bay Area has over 60 of them and they are implemented specifically to help local businesses, as they enhance the vitality of an area, offering a place for people on the street to stay longer. People staying longer = more potential revenue.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss this further, as we at OPEN have everyone’s best interests in mind.
Visit http://www.openAsheville.org for more information.
Meka