Fairhope, Alabama
PARKING WOES WORSENING
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the site plan of a new parking lot on city property behind the library, to be funded by the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation using the yearly rent receipts it charges its lessees: estimated cost is $450K.
The city council already gave its informal approval of the design at its last work session.
The "park-site" design will be environmentally friendly with heavy landscaping and pervious (porous) pavement to limit storm water runoff in compliance with the city's new low impact development law.
Most of the existing trees will be preserved as well, but some of the "centennial trees" along Bancroft Avenue will have to be relocated or replaced.
Access will be from Magnolia Avenue only and a circular. 11' wide one-way asphalt driveway will lead to the fifty-five "90 degree" spaces made of the pervious material, according to a public works official.
A kiosk will be constructed in the center as shelter and a meeting place for the 'Walking School Bus' program that begins there mornings during the school year.
Weekly farmer's markets held during the summer will continue and new landscaping added behind the library itself as well.
Competition for scarce spaces between library visitors and Faulkner College students has been heating up as city population grows -- as well the number of students attending the college.
The city has a long-standing agreement to provide parking for the college as part of its lease agreement with the college (the college is on city property).
DE LA MARE STREET PARKING AN ISSUE TOO
The mayor, council members and downtown business owners are debating what to do about De La Mare St as well: the street was recently paved and still needs to be striped.
Proposals range from putting it "back the way it was" to closing the street altogether and making it a pedestrian mall.
Another proposal to make it one-way westbound would add an additional 12 parking spaces -- and generally make it more pedestrian friendly; that would also improve the dangerous Section Street intersection where vision is blocked, according to some city officials.
Some proponents of the pedestrian mall advocate additional parking decks downtown to accommodate the population boom, perhaps on some of the vacant K-1 school property off Church Street. (That property is still owned by the Baldwin School Board.)
One De La Mare business owner told the Times he fears the usual bickering and lack of consensus among downtown merchants may produce nothing at all, as is often the case.
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| north is up |
PARKING WOES WORSENING
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the site plan of a new parking lot on city property behind the library, to be funded by the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation using the yearly rent receipts it charges its lessees: estimated cost is $450K.
The city council already gave its informal approval of the design at its last work session.
The "park-site" design will be environmentally friendly with heavy landscaping and pervious (porous) pavement to limit storm water runoff in compliance with the city's new low impact development law.
 |
| parking lot site |
Most of the existing trees will be preserved as well, but some of the "centennial trees" along Bancroft Avenue will have to be relocated or replaced.
Access will be from Magnolia Avenue only and a circular. 11' wide one-way asphalt driveway will lead to the fifty-five "90 degree" spaces made of the pervious material, according to a public works official.
A kiosk will be constructed in the center as shelter and a meeting place for the 'Walking School Bus' program that begins there mornings during the school year.
Weekly farmer's markets held during the summer will continue and new landscaping added behind the library itself as well.
Competition for scarce spaces between library visitors and Faulkner College students has been heating up as city population grows -- as well the number of students attending the college.
The city has a long-standing agreement to provide parking for the college as part of its lease agreement with the college (the college is on city property).
DE LA MARE STREET PARKING AN ISSUE TOO
The mayor, council members and downtown business owners are debating what to do about De La Mare St as well: the street was recently paved and still needs to be striped.
 |
| De La Mare Street paved, not striped yet |
Proposals range from putting it "back the way it was" to closing the street altogether and making it a pedestrian mall.
Another proposal to make it one-way westbound would add an additional 12 parking spaces -- and generally make it more pedestrian friendly; that would also improve the dangerous Section Street intersection where vision is blocked, according to some city officials.
Some proponents of the pedestrian mall advocate additional parking decks downtown to accommodate the population boom, perhaps on some of the vacant K-1 school property off Church Street. (That property is still owned by the Baldwin School Board.)
One De La Mare business owner told the Times he fears the usual bickering and lack of consensus among downtown merchants may produce nothing at all, as is often the case.
 |
| Section/De La Mare dangerous intersection |
Comments
And as usual, please remember.
KANT AFFORD 4 MORE
Because nothing screams "small southern ambiance" like a parking garage.
like to read it after that my friends will too.