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March 21, 2006
SPENDING ANOTHER $150,000 FOR ANOTHER DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY WITH A FANCY NAME--DOWNTOWN ACCESS PLANNING CHARRETTE
HERE WE GO AGAIN. When the City Council didn’t like the results of studies they paid for, approximately $300,000, they simply authorized another study with a new name. And, without a “blink-of-the-eye� they appropriated another $150,000 hoping that they can direct other consultant(s) to come-up with answers that “suits-their-fancy�.
If you’re not familiar with Downtown Chico, you might think that the study is really going to improve the access to Downtown--that’s a “Bunch-Of-Bunk�. Downtown has an outstanding access street system, public transit system leading to the Downtown and bicycle facilities--better access and facilities than any other commercial area in the Chico Area.
The Downtown Access Planning Charrette (better called a Charade) will be conducted by several consultants from March 23rd through March 27th. I hope the Downtown property and business owners will participate in all of the scheduled meetings and not allow the Farmer’s Market groups to take over the meetings.
Logic dictates Farmer’s Market should be relocated (one block south) at the Municipal Building Parking Lot, and a multistory parking facility built on the existing Parking Lot at 3rd and Wall Streets.
It is well known that property owners and investors will not build in a Downtown (such as Chico’s) unless there is ample parking available for existing and new businesses.
This is an opportunity for the present City Council to apply some long term vision for the betterment of its Downtown—it should remember that the Farmer’s Market groups have no financial investment in Downtown Chico.
Posted by at March 21, 2006 01:35 PM