Tag: parking lots

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Should parking hold up trail development?

On By jamesinclair

This Sunday, the Fresno Bee ran an excellent spread on the plans for the extension of the Eaton Trail in North Fresno. The article was somewhat familiar…about two years ago, I reported on the very same trail having not progressed even though planning had been ongoing for a decade. Even though two years have passed, nothing has happened.

Normally, you’d think the reason for the delays would be money. Not in this case. $30 million is sitting in the bank, waiting to be spent on river improvements, including the trail, bathrooms and canoe launches. If you want to know what the existing trail to the north looks like, I have a few photos here. Click to read more!

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Parking in the rear can be a failed policy

On By jamesinclair

When talking about what is wrong with suburban planning, many (including myself) will tell you about how damaging the enormous (and enormously underused) parking lots that front strip malls can be. Many urbanists will tell you that a great way to fix ugly sprawl is to mandate that parking being forced to the rear of new and redeveloped retail. That way, customers get their ample free parking, but it’s not as detrimental to the landscape, because it’s hiding out back. But what if suburban cities decide to half-ass it, and send only some parking to the rear? Apparently, that’s what’s mandated in commercial development here, and it’s a failed policy. Click to read more!

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Why do people think that parking in downtown Fresno is hard?

On By jamesinclair

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a forum downtown about development in south Fresno. The mayor of Fresno, Ashley Swearengin, spoke.

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Unfortunately, we had to sit and wait because the mayor was late. Honestly, it’s not a big deal, we only had to wait around 10 minutes, and other speakers were given the opportunity to “cut in line” and say their part first.

My concern was the excuse given by the speaker.

“Apparently she is circling the block trying to find a parking spot, I’m sure you all understand.”

Actually, no. The vast majority of those in attendance were lower income hispanic or asian immigrants concerned about their neighborhood. I’d bet a large percentage took the bus to get to this event. Click to read more!

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Zoo expansion will bring giant parking lot into historic park

On By jamesinclair

This problem deserves a longer post, but I dont have time, so here’s a summary.

-Roeding Park, one of two major parks in Fresno, the oldest and most historic.
-Fresno Chaffee Zoo, located inside the park.

The plan: Expand the zoo by closing off existing portions of the park and making them zoo-land.

The problem: The Roeding Family (they donated the land for the park) is concerned about taking public park land and giving it to the semi-private zoo, and how this will hurt recreation opportunities for the poor (it’s in a poor neighborhood).

My concern: Ignoring THAT issue, the plan has one giant flaw: AN ENORMOUS PARKING LOT! The city wants to bulldoze 100 year old trees to build a giant parking lot. What a great way to celebrate open space in a park! Click to read more!

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Why build parking lot years in advance of the building?

On By jamesinclair

I’ve been curious about something for awhile, and was wondering if any reader knew the answer.

In the Fresno and Clovis area, you come upon many lots which are zoned for commerce (and in one example, a park). The very first thing built in these lots is a parking lot. The whole deal, asphalt, lights, lines, even the handicap signs. And then it sits there.

Sometimes for years. And years. Some locations have parking lots that were built 5+ years ago, with no building to go with it.

And I just don’t get it.

Parking lots aren’t free. The rule of thumb for a surface lot is $8,000 per space, not including land cost. So why would a developer come in, plop down up to half a million dollars worth of asphalt, so that an empty parking lot can sit? Click to read more!