What's up with the parking situation; or lack of it?
Recently Grand Avenue was resurfaced and it looks beautiful. But I noticed that in the process, they removed parking spaces. It seems like every time a street scape project is done, parking spaces are eliminated. Another two or three were taken away on Grand in front of Sapient. Notice the markings in front of the car here? Well, those diagonal lines were spaces until last week.
You can see here, there is a sign at the left, where parking would begin, in front of that sign is bus drop off, not city buses, but the big red buses, which don't come through the Grove anymore due to all the construction and navigation they have to do to just get through the streets, so extra bus standing spaces are not needed.
You can see it better here in this photo, we are looking the back of the sign that indicates everything on the side of that sign is a parking space, only notice the street markings now. Are they made for mopeds or scooters? Across the street up a bit, there are two more spots blocked. You can't see them here but they are in the upper right of this photo.
There is a lack of reliable mass transit in the village, so parking spaces are important.
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7 Comments:
It is absolutely inconsiderate of the Parking or appropriate City Commission to eliminate public parking and force the public to use private parking lots and pay the outrageous charges they demand.
Unbelievable. What is the point? Between the valet operation, expanding sidewalks, and now this.
On Sunday evening, May 5, there were at least 12 orange valet (Will-Tow) poles set up on Grand Ave near the post office and on the opposite side. It is infuriating that the valet companies are allowed to take away public parking spots so that they can make money! I usually cycle in but it was bucketing rain and I refuse to pay for valet when my 33133 zip code gets me reduced pay-by-phone parking. Who's getting the kickbacks from the valet companies?
Valet provides a guarantee income & less fees similar to a debit card vs. credit card of about 2.5%. Tour business need guarantees so they know there's space to drop of & await the returning tourist. A tour bus can drop off 50/60 potential cash paying, where for example these 3 parking spaces might expect to see, what, 9 cars in 1 hour. Of course the retail stores & eateries will have to take into consideration what the average tourist arriving via bus will spend per capita, per hour. One bus per hour, times 8, times 55 equals about 440 potential cash paying customers vs how many cars, say 35 in that same time period. This requires a ton of planning, months in advance just to remove 3 parking spaces to make room for bus related cash flow via tourist. The Grove is way past a sleepy cocaine, marijuana, substance abuse little bar hopping, get layed, laid back village. In with the new and out with the old.
Anon 4:34 - that is if the people on those buses actually spend money in shops, local eateries, ect. This is the cruise ship model of thinking that more is better, which if you look at coastal cities like Charleston they know that this is not the case given the people that buy these cheap all inclusive tour tickets in the first place. Parking for locals is very important to keep us engaged in the community ie picking up laundry, to go food, flowers gym ect. Seems like our local leadership has no problem selling public entities for what gain? Melreese public park, parking spots/garages all to the detriment of the public citizen.
Not completely on topic with this, but what about parking access to the Post Office? I believe crossing the double-yellow line and using the oncoming turn lane when going to the P.O. from 32nd Ave (or Commodore) is probably illegal -- anyone know for sure? I hate doing that, but I'd hate even more having to only be able to access my P.O. Box from the westbound lane. And what about taking a left out of the lot to get down to Bayshore Legal or No? Now that it's been redone and all the paint is bright and new, I expect some cop to start writing tickets for that someday soon.
Anon 4:58, from anon 4:34. My comment was a knee jerk response & factually uninformed. Yours seemed informed & logical. I've owned a home in the Grove since 1965, namely because I love the ocean, diving, Biscayne Bay & beach combing the Florida Keys and launch my boat from the Seminole Boat Ramp. I greatly appreciate the narrow tree lined streets, peacocks, and the large number of people recently pushing baby carriages and walking their dogs. Even with these recent well constructed MacMansions, high rise condos and schools (influx of people & intense traffic) I have not been denied the emotional sentimental feeling of being in a VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT. I agree with what you infer/indicate. I'm aged, one hip, right shoulder & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome hand hurts. By the time I walk down to Center Grove I feel as if I could play another football game- plus, plus thoughts. I believe, the powers that be, government & private interest came from ROOTS in some small island type community, and are savvy business people who will create a new real Grove Village that normal average folk can appreciate because it's the right thing to do to create cash flow. They have to get the environment correct to attract Grove residents and tourist alike. Jobie Steppe
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