|
Opinion
Published
01/15/12
Annapolis officials are considering a proposal from a local company to build a parking garage - at no cost to taxpayers - on a lot on Compromise Street. Although there are many questions about the proposal, it represents a potential breakthrough in the development of City Dock. Find Us On Facebook
For decades the lot, owned by the county school system, has been eyed by developers and entrepreneurs who have recognized its potential. Within sight of City Dock and in the heart of downtown, it is an attractive place for retail or office space. But the county school system has stubbornly refused to part with the property because it serves as a parking lot...
Copyright © Capital Gazette Communications LLC, 2012.
See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use |
| #1 - Md. casinos slow to reach revenue (25 comments) |
| #2 - Police: Route 3 road rage began as game (18 comments) |
| #3 - House passes same-sex marriage bill (13 comments) |
| #4 - Teachers angered by grade ‘minimums’ (12 comments) |
| #5 - Eric Hartley: Council’s stark choice highlights clear divide (11 comments) |
|
If you encounter other problems, please email nlundskow@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.
In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.
Take a look at a summary of Commenting Guidelines.
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0
0
Do NOT miss this opportunity!! - 2012-01-17 02:46:06
This is an excellent proposal and has my full support!
I also support the objectives of Ward One; Historic Preservation harmonized with keeping downtown a viable and relevant mixed use district. (anti-sprawl, walk-able communities etc, etc..)
The Parks did a great job with Park Place. I am confident they can bring a project that dovetails with local concerns.
I've lived in the downtown historic district for over 30 years. Parking is the keystone issue to revitalizing downtown for retailers and residents. The City Council and many of my fellow residents have foolishly ignored this critical piece for years! A tangential but major element this project facilitates is the conversion of waterfront parking to a pedestrian area and/or green space.(for pollution control and Quality of life reasons.. Perhaps a chance to integrate some flood mitigation measures as well.)
How can I help?
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Salty Seadog - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0
1
No Garage - 2012-01-15 23:37:40
A garage downtown will destroy our neighborhoods and the reason people come downtown. Welcome to Toledo on the Bay! And we are supposed to 'let the market decide'. That worked well on Wall Street.
It will never happen anyway. There really isn't any money nor is there about to be.
The Capital needs to back off it's knee jerk reactions to destroy what has made it - and Annapolis - a place people want to come to.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
William Charles - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0
2
What is "Free Market Decide"? - 2012-01-15 19:41:46
So I guess that a developer's previous projects and their ability to complete them have no forebearance on a current project? OK, Annapolis Truth!! You go ahead and let the Parks companies know that...
And exactly what does "let the free market decide" mean? Does that mean that the City issues approval and Parks build whatever he wants to build?
Suggest you get a good book on real estate development and read it cover to cover then post.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Mark Andrews - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 2
1
Free market decide - 2012-01-15 18:54:29
Lease this property and let the free market decide what it best. Mark Andrews it is a joke to require proffers related to Park Place on Jerry Parks for this site. Craig, nobody cares about live-work units. They never work. They do not work in MoCo, why would they work in Annapolis?
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Annapolis Truth - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 1
2
Wrong on So Many Levels - 2012-01-15 10:25:12
The benefits are outweighed by reality:
1. The City needs to tell us now, today, what will happen to arguably the most visited park in the city, as it sits within the footprint of the site.
2. The Developer needs to tell us the justification of adding more retail to a corridor that is sitting at about a 20% vacancy. Can the City proffer that the retail is pre-leased with 10-year deals before allowing the project?
3. How high will the structure be? Will it obstruct view corrdidors? Annapolis Elem was built in 1896; will the garage dilute the context of the historical school building?
4. Can the City proffer that Jerry Parks rebuild Market House from scratch as to create a linkage between the projects?
5. Speaking of J. Parks, can the City proffer that all of the site plan conditions for Park Place are completed before even disscussing a new project a City Dock?
6. The public approval process, which is already protracted in this City, will be further stressed by the necessity to have this thing built to meet the needs of the School's schedule.Surely Liquidated Damages for delays must be discussed before any approvals are given.
I sense all out war on this one.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Mark Andrews - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 2
2
Downtown Garage + Work Force Housin - 2012-01-15 06:38:10
... or one could build live-work units on top of a small single level garage and encourage new entrepreneurs and their families to live downtown & build a diverse business base.
see link:
http://annapolispoliticalscene.blogspot.com/2009/08/live-work-units-downtown.html
Maybe have tourists park out at the stadium as was suggested in the first Annapolis Comprehensive Plan in the 1960's.
Who is Cohen listening to these days in making major planning and redevelopment decisions downtown ? Let's hope it is not the same folks who have handled the Markethouse to date.
unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?
Craig Purcell - Baltimore, md - Karma: Terrible
If you encounter other problems, please email nlundskow@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.