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Though a parking structure might be necessary, the city needs to address this problem however it can so that additional parking is available immediately. I also had trouble finding a parking spot 9 days ago when trying to duck into YOM and Mr. West wasn't in town.<BR>
Chris, my concern is that "overflow parking" will be be to turn around and go home (or to MOM's in College Park). Someone driving from Laurel for a meal at BB&P isn't going to drive around Hyattsville looking for parking. They're more likely to troll the lot until a spot opens and then the next time they consider venturing to Hyattsville for a meal, they'll remember the extra 10 minutes (and the associated frustration) of searching for a parking space and maybe reconsider the visit. Then again, if people stop coming, there will be ample parking.<BR>
It's my understanding that there are city lots toward the rear of the Castle/Crossover Church that abut Crossover's lot, and the city is working to hash out the logistics of this parking area. I hope that arranging safe and convenient parking with sufficient signage is one of the city's (and council's) top priorities. And, yes, more bike racks would be nice, especially near YOM's entrance.<BR>
Bart Lawrence<BR>
Hyattsville, MD <BR> <BR>
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> > <BR>> ------------------------------<BR>> <BR>> Message: 2<BR>> Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:33:47 -0400<BR>> From: Chris Currie <crcurrie@gmail.com><BR>> To: TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] parking at EYA<BR>> Message-ID:<BR>> <CAHfsXwrXRc8aOD=65-HPqyy1w5NjcpwS9-wgZK2En7g8dy5NCw@mail.gmail.com><BR>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<BR>> <BR>> That parking lot fills up on most evenings now. Hyattsville city officials<BR>> foresaw the need for more parking back in the development review process for<BR>> Arts District Hyattsville, and former Mayor Gardiner spent quite a bit of<BR>> time and effort trying to secure partnerships and funding for a parking<BR>> garage on the east side.<BR>> <BR>> However, it's never easy to afford structured parking, and when the<BR>> recession hit, I think that killed any serious continuing effort on that<BR>> project. Whether a site still exists in EYA's master plan or whether it's<BR>> been re-programmed, I don't know. In any case, given the permanent<BR>> financial crisis at every level of government and the near-impossibility of<BR>> building a parking garage on that site entirely with private funding, I<BR>> think it's a pipe dream at this point.<BR>> <BR>> I've been curious to see where overflow parking will go -- whether patrons<BR>> of the Shoppes will head south to the municipal lot at Franklins (which also<BR>> often fills up) or whether they'll start cruising the residential<BR>> neighborhoods west of Rte. 1. I do see a lot of people walking down<BR>> Jefferson St. on weekend evenings, but I can't tell if all of those are<BR>> local residents walking to the Shoppes or if there are car commuters among<BR>> them.<BR>> <BR>> Probably another issue that Riverdale Park and University Park residents<BR>> should be thinking about now with respect to the Cafritz development,<BR>> because given the developers' demonstrated focus on maximizing density on<BR>> the site, it's a pretty sure bet that they'll put in as little parking as<BR>> they can get away with. On that issue, though, I'm sure Whole Foods will be<BR>> a powerful negotiator -- and undoubtedly they'll want acres of parking.<BR>> <BR>> Chris Currie<BR>> Hyattsville<BR>> <BR>> <BR>></DIV> </div></body>
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