It always comes back to parking
Or, at least, it feels like this.
We had this thought a few weeks back during a public meeting. And we suspect it's true -- both in the real world and the virtual world. (Though maybe the line should slope even faster.)
By the way: If you've never been to a meeting of your local planning board (or similar panel), you should go sometime. A lot of things people tend to be interested in -- new buildings, news businesses, parking -- get discussed at these meetings. And, if anything, it gives you another peek into how local government works.
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Comments
I've always been tempted to go to one, but I'd be too tempted to slap someone over their demands for turning everything into an ugly parking lot, so I stay home and argue online instead.
... said JayK on Dec 17, 2015 at 5:34 PM | link
You mean bicycle parking, right? I know. Everyone is always, like, where are all the bicycles going to go?
Cars? Leave them dry docked at home or be willing to drop anchor a couple of blocks away. We're out of space for cars and we all need more exercise.
Feel free to drop this rant at the next meeting. Should be a huge hit.
... said Randal Putnam on Dec 17, 2015 at 5:43 PM | link
What? The Residential Parking Permit program didn't fix parking?
... said Bob on Dec 17, 2015 at 6:04 PM | link
why cant everybody get a driver so there would be no need to park ones car?
If folks really made public transit better in this area we could get away with the need nonsense.
... said Timothy Reidy on Dec 17, 2015 at 9:54 PM | link
Great blog post, AOA. Really good job. Insightful. Funny. Trenchant.
But have you stopped to consider how it will impact parking?
... said Jason on Dec 17, 2015 at 11:29 PM | link
I choose to live in the suburbs and I demand a red carpet be rolled out to meet me at my pristine new SUV parked directly in front of the building. These poor city folk can deal with the parking lots and blight, we don't have that out in the suburbs.
... said Sean on Dec 18, 2015 at 7:26 AM | link
Why are people always talking about parking? Is there an issue? I mean, sure, those people taking their smoke breaks next to the bike racks are annoying, & those people parking their ginormous fume-belching vehicles in the "no parking zone" right next to the bike racks are disgusting, but is it really upsetting a lot of people?
... said ethan on Dec 18, 2015 at 8:25 AM | link
Albany needs more locally-owned businesses. We need a more vibrant downtown, with restaurants, stores and activities! We need reasons for people to stay downtown after work. And as more people want to live, work and shop within walking distance, we have to make this a more attractive place for future generations!
But if any of that means I can't park within 50 feet of my front door, forget it.
... said Ryan H on Dec 18, 2015 at 1:05 PM | link
Exactly, Ryan H! It's so unreasonable to expect to have all the benefits of city life without some of the more challenging aspects, like parking. I'm not comparing Albany to NYC, but in Manhattan I feel lucky if I can park within 6 or 8 blocks of my destination. In Albany, 2 or 3 blocks seems fair and reasonable to me. I've also conditioned myself to rejoice when I go downtown on the weekends, or an evening, and have to work a bit to find parking. As a resident and business owner (!), that's what I want to see!
... said Silvia Meder Lilly on Dec 21, 2015 at 8:39 AM | link