pages: PlanningBoard/2005-06-27.pdf, 20
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PlanningBoard | 2005-06-27 | 20 | Mr. Harold McKenzie, 3263 Thompson Avenue, spoke in support of this item. He would like the garage to be constructed in such a way that would make it work for the City. Mr. Eric Strimlin noted that there was an increasing public groundswell against this structure because of its massiveness. He believed it was out of scale with Alameda, and did not understand why the size of the garage could not be reduced. He asked the Board to inspire, not to compromise. He expressed concern that this garage could weigh the downtown down, and requested that the design be reduced. Mr. Harry Hartman noted that he had a business on Oak Street, and added that parking garages were primarily about functionality. He believed this garage would be an improvement, and that it was not a nondescript structure. He suggested that some work be done to the panels, or that cornices be added for some visual interest. He believed that if the garage were to be well-designed, the ingress and egress would be easy for people. Mr. Jim Strehlow, 3122 Gibbons Street, noted that he supported the project, but was concerned about its size. He requested information about free parking, and hoped the plans for the garage were fiscally sound so that it could be self-sustaining. He suggested that fewer levels would enable to City to reach that goal, and that there should be subsidized parking validation for the Cineplex, to be paid back by the theater owner. He suggested that there should be parking validation for the library as well. He encouraged monthly parking rental revenue, and some methodology to determine how many people would buy monthly passes for the garage. Mr. Robert Gavrich, 1517 Fountain, believed this parking garage was not big enough and was concerned that it would be inadequate for evenings when the Cineplex was at capacity. He believed that would be a parking and traffic nightmare, and did not believe the current plan was unworkable. He noted that the City estimated the creation of 300 new jobs, but that many of them would be in construction. He inquired where the employees would park. He noted that the City was invoking eminent domain against the owner of the Alameda Theater, and inquired why that could not be invoked against Long's for the portion of their parking lot that would make this garage publicly acceptable. Ms. Ani Dimusheva, 2911 Calhoun Street, read an excerpt from the Alameda Journal entitled "More Parking is Not Always the Answer:" "Oak Street between Central and Lincoln Avenue should be Alameda's civic center. That was the advice to Mayor Ralph Appezzato from his counterparts in other cities and urban design professionals during last week's seminar of the Mayors' Institute on City Design. The area from historic Alameda High School to the new main library to be built at Oak Street and Lincoln Avenue could be a vibrant area that will bring residents together. "Alameda doesn't have the land for a civic plaza, but the City could improvise to get the feeling of an open gathering space into the existing compact area, the group told Planning Board Minutes Page 20 June 27, 2005 | PlanningBoard/2005-06-27.pdf |