Parking lots you wish would disappear

[xen0blue]

so which surface lot would you all most want to have something built on it? My least favorite lot was the one the marryvale was on, since I used to park on it and walk to el centro on it and thought it looked awful, but since that one is now being built on (thank god), these are my top 3:

1) The lot bounded by Ross, Lamar, Griffin and San Jacinto (the philly cheesestake lot, across from the Maryvale):

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5575/lot1yr9.jpg

link: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=32.782146~-96.804153&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=19297546&encType=1


2) The lot bounded by Field, San Jacinto, Akard and Patterson:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9103/lot3qs3.jpg

link: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=32.783593~-96.801033&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=19297555&encType=1


3) The lot bounded by Main, Griffin, Lamar and Commerce:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5131/lot2cm8.jpg

link: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=32.779313~-96.80354&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=19297728&encType=1


Special mention goes to that atrocity between Corbin, Griffin, McKinney and Magnolia:

link: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=32.784739~-96.80507&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=19297555&encType=1

[hamiltonpl]

Those are all parking lots that I wish would disappear. Your No. 1 is my No. 1 also. If we got rid of that place, the West End would really take off.

[dfwcre8tive]

I added the poll.

I agree that the first one would have the most impact on the surrounding area. But #3 is a close 2nd.

[drycreek]

I'd like to see something built on #1 most. I just hope whoever builds there will keep the existing buildings on site and attempt to incorporate them into whatever it is they build. I love these old quirky little structures. I think they do a great job of keep the urban fabric on a human/pedestrian scale.

[Mballar]

Wouldn't we like to see something built on all of the surface parking lots DT?

[Sky Time]

the first one. Its the worst out of all of them. the only good thing is that philly shop, and i dont think they would mind closing down for a bit and opening under some apartments like the 2 across the street from it.

[jsoto3]

I think we'll se activity on Lot #3 soon after "Belo Garden" starts construction.

[Sky Time]

o thats right, lot 3 wont be around in a few years.

[mdg109]

I'd like to get rid of the three massive lots right outside of deep ellum. I think they're in between elm and pacific. Develop something there and create a pedestrian gateway to deep ellum... awesome!

[barrycb]

o thats right, lot 3 wont be around in a few years.

Whada you guys know????

[TheMapman]

Belo Gardens is going in across the street from #3, so that lot could be there forever.

My vote is off the list...the big parking lot in front of the convention center, Griffin, Young, and Market. Doubly so because of that awful two-level parking dump on the corner of Market and Young.

[Sky Time]

O ya, its the Lot right next to the Metropolitan that will be Belo
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1096/parkcs7.jpg

Well then Lot 3 should be turned into....um.....?

[psukhu]

#1 would have the most synergy at this time, but they all need to go. It is also sad that there is an ugly surface lot across the street from the region's tallest building.

The lots not mentioned are the many adjacent lots between the Dallas World Aquarium, Woodall Rodgers and Griffin Street. What a waste of urban real estate.

[Sky Time]

Woodall Rodgers is ok, your going to find lots like that in every city in America.

[elmstreetdallas]

Almost all of the large surface lots will eventually go away. It's just a matter of time.

[sterling]

Almost all of the large surface lots will eventually go away. It's just a matter of time.

Yes, a few years after cars become extinct the city of Dallas will commission a 5-year three-part study to repurpose them.

[elmstreetdallas]

Yes, a few years after cars become extinct the city of Dallas will commission a 5-year three-part study to repurpose them.


LOL. It might not take that long.... Hopefully.

[mdg109]

Woodall Rodgers is ok, your going to find lots like that in every city in America.
Yeah, but we shouldn't have to be like every city in America. We need to break the American downtown standard and really try to build an urban city that promotes pedestrian activity and real community.

[jdwillis]

Yeah, but we shouldn't have to be like every city in America. We need to break the American downtown standard and really try to build an urban city that promotes pedestrian activity and real community.

This is true, so far as it goes, but a place as big as downtown Dallas needs parking. It is simply not reasonable to expect all the jobs in downtown to be filled either from downtown residents or by people who only ride mass transit. Some may, more might, but not all. DART's ridership numbers don't support it, either right now nor for the foreseeable future. Yes, ridership is increasing, but there are simply too few people, as a proportion of the downtown workforce (and others who want to go somewhere downtown), who get to work via DART. There may be a variety of reasons for that; maybe DART is, for whatever reason, not an option for some, for others it is preference, but whatever the reason, most people still drive their own cars. It is simply a fact.

Parking lots are a great way to mothball a piece of property. They are easy to scrape off and then a developer has a clean piece of dirt from which to start. Paid parking lots generate taxes, so the local revenue stream is better than if they were just undeveloped land. And they serve a function - they wouldn't be there if they didn’t fulfill a market need.

Even when those lots go away, there will still be a need for downtown parking. Look to Ft. Worth for one way to address this issue. A truly vibrant downtown simply requires accessibility, and that means an inexpensive place for people to park, that is convenient to where they want to be. Without it, downtown will not grow a much as it could.

[Sky Time]

some surface lots you need. Not everyone wants to park in a parking garage for the west end or victory.

[SDORN]

Don't care personally never park in the parking in DTown anyway. Ride Dart it will save you money. More green space

[freewaytincan]

some surface lots you need. Not everyone wants to park in a parking garage for the west end or victory.

Do you think about these things before you put them on here? How does that even make sense?

[mjblazin]

Belo Gardens is going in across the street from #3, so that lot could be there forever.

My vote is off the list...the big parking lot in front of the convention center, Griffin, Young, and Market. Doubly so because of that awful two-level parking dump on the corner of Market and Young.

2 is next to BofA Plaza and near Belo. 3 is between Federal and San Jacinto, well north of that location and behind the new affordable housing development near the YMCA.

[Sky Time]

Do you think about these things before you put them on here? How does that even make sense?

???

[garlander4]

i want the third lot redeveloped to extend the retail possibilities west along main st. Plus it would help to close in the future park across the street.

[KesslerDweller]

I don't think you are making sense. The costs and convenience for parking on a surface lot far outwieght that of a garage.

On a separate note, don't expect parking lots to go away just because they don't look good. With our high real estate taxes, sitting on an empty lot downtown is a costly idea. A parking lot will offset the costs. Plus where do people park otherwise?


Do you think about these things before you put them on here? How does that even make sense?

[cowboyeagle05]

I don't think you are making sense. The costs and convenience for parking on a surface lot far outwieght that of a garage.

On a separate note, don't expect parking lots to go away just because they don't look good. With our high real estate taxes, sitting on an empty lot downtown is a costly idea. A parking lot will offset the costs. Plus where do people park otherwise.
I don't think anybody talking about land siting empty. I agree Parking lots are fine business until the taxes get too high to make the Parking lot a savy business or sell the land to a developer. I think we just can't wait until all the empty pieces of land ether have a pedestrian oriented building, parking garage, or park. I don't hate a parking lot unless its doesn't make sense in many ways including the business of paying taxes for the land. What I don't like is when a parking lot company refuses to sell to a development because the parking lot will make them more money. While thats good business sense for them I would prefer the development, unless its bad one which in that case its the cities job to make that judgment. If they own the land, in the end its their choice not mine and its their right to refuse any sale.

Although that green space in the LoMac area is a nice placeholder alternative but I guess parking was not good business when it was landscaped that way. I am definitely not looking for a overgrown grassy empty lot that would be worse.

[Sky Time]

I don't think you are making sense. The costs and convenience for parking on a surface lot far outwieght that of a garage.

On a separate note, don't expect parking lots to go away just because they don't look good. With our high real estate taxes, sitting on an empty lot downtown is a costly idea. A parking lot will offset the costs. Plus where do people park otherwise?

Exactly what I am saying. If downtown has out of town visitors (my parents or my friends from back home) then they would rather park in a lot then in a parking garage because the Garages just feel un-natural to them.

[xen0blue]

Exactly what I am saying. If downtown has out of town visitors (my parents or my friends from back home) then they would rather park in a lot then in a parking garage because the Garages just feel un-natural to them.

that's a horrible, horrible argument. not parking in a parking lot because it feels 'unnatural'? methinks your parents closed-minded and uncomfortable with change.

[jredallas]

I actually tend to agree somewhat with the notion of people being more comfortable parking in a lot than a garage if they are unfamiliar with the territory. Having lived in or around downtown for a few years now, when the "need" arises for me to park my car somewhere in downtown I will always look for a garage now. In the past, when visiting Dallas from out of town, I recall always parking in surface lots. I think it was that the surface lots seemed more welcoming with the rules like costs clearly posted and visible. I always seemed to worry that if I pulled into a garage that I might be pulling into a lot that was only for people who worked in the building above or next to it. It seems a bit silly to me now, but it didn't when I was less familiar with how it all worked, like most of the people looking for a place to park while they visit the aquarium, arts district, JFK, etc. who are here as tourists versus residents. The task of finding what exit to take to downtown and what one way street to drive on is daunting enough much less looking for a parking garage you can park in while the local guy is driving aggressively behind you.

[Sky Time]

I actually tend to agree somewhat with the notion of people being more comfortable parking in a lot than a garage if they are unfamiliar with the territory. Having lived in or around downtown for a few years now, when the "need" arises for me to park my car somewhere in downtown I will always look for a garage now. In the past, when visiting Dallas from out of town, I recall always parking in surface lots. I think it was that the surface lots seemed more welcoming with the rules like costs clearly posted and visible. I always seemed to worry that if I pulled into a garage that I might be pulling into a lot that was only for people who worked in the building above or next to it. It seems a bit silly to me now, but it didn't when I was less familiar with how it all worked, like most of the people looking for a place to park while they visit the aquarium, arts district, JFK, etc. who are here as tourists versus residents. The task of finding what exit to take to downtown and what one way street to drive on is daunting enough much less looking for a parking garage you can park in while the local guy is driving aggressively behind you.

Exactly!

[eirin]

Except surface lots waste so much valuable land space. It's just...inefficient.

[GennadyB]

The whole intersection of Field and San Jacinto is a parking lot wasteland. Although there is a sign on one of the corners (southwest, I think) advertising upcoming commercial and retail space.

[jredallas]

I guess that is just it, suface lots are necessary and exist even in the middle of Manhattan, but it is the large "wastelands" as you put it that create the real eyesore and sense of blight.

[texcolo2]

#3 needs to go first, because it's across the street from the tallest building in town.

[barrycb]

Someone was conducting soil testing this weekend on the lot bounded by Ross, Field and San Jacinto, just west of the YMCA building. I would like to get my hopes up...