Letter to the Editor

Is parking garage truly necessary?

Friday, June 21, 2013

Dear Editor:

The bids on the proposed downtown parking garage project have come in one million dollars higher than estimated. Perhaps the shock of this realization will give the people involved pause for thought. Even if the estimates can be brought into line, do we really need a $3.4 million parking garage in Greencastle, or could our Stellar Grant funds be invested more wisely?

In the 10 years I have lived here, I have never had trouble finding a parking spot within a few doors of any downtown business, church or government office. If you take a drive around the square and adjacent streets on any day of the week, you will find literally dozens of open parking spaces.

In fact, since the proposed garage is not adjacent to most commercial properties, parking there, especially on the second level, would result not only in a longer walk to the driver's destination, but more time expended in actually parking, walking to the exits and then taking stairs or an elevator to the ground floor.

The proposed parking garage would have 146 spaces, at a cost of over $23,000 per space. Surely by eliminating all the bricks and mortar, as well as the stairwells and elevators necessary for an elaborate enclosed building, there would be enough open room for an open, ground level parking lot with approximately 100 spaces. That would be much more accessible and maintenance-free. And, if it ever turns out that the parking lot was unnecessary in the first place, it could be developed into something more useful rather than having an empty structure remaining as an embarrassing white elephant.

Sincerely,

Gary VanMiddlesworth