Downtown Population increased 25% since 2000 (Pittsburgh, Washington: calculated, airport, light-rail)

[Evergrey]

Yeah... it's an awful project, pman. Typical of local developers.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by pman

New 77-unit condo project to replace former Saks presented to Pittsburgh Planning Commission - Pittsburgh Business Times
like trying to figure out why anyone thought it was a good idea to build a monstrous parking garage across from mellon park which is a parking garage itself.

Does Mellon Park garage fill up? One would assume that there must be a need for more parking if they are building another garage. People don't just build parking garages for fun.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

Does Mellon Park garage fill up? One would assume that there must be a need for more parking if they are building another garage. People don't just build parking garages for fun.

Yeah, but parking garages cost money to build. Generally speaking, a lot of this money is fronted by taxpayers. We already have a transit system which gets people to Downtown. Many people have made the cost-benefit analysis of parking garage versus bus/T, and decided to pick transit because garage space is scarce. By adding more garage space, you give some of those people incentives to not take transit, which hurts the Port Authority.

Add to this that the space could have just been used for downtown apartments or condos without a garage. Many of those units would have gone to someone who was walking to work, and most of them would not have cars, which would have eased the parking situation downtown considerably.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Yeah, but parking garages cost money to build. Generally speaking, a lot of this money is fronted by taxpayers. We already have a transit system which gets people to Downtown. Many people have made the cost-benefit analysis of parking garage versus bus/T, and decided to pick transit because garage space is scarce. By adding more garage space, you give some of those people incentives to not take transit, which hurts the Port Authority.

Add to this that the space could have just been used for downtown apartments or condos without a garage. Many of those units would have gone to someone who was walking to work, and most of them would not have cars, which would have eased the parking situation downtown considerably.

I would love to live downtown but it would be nearly impossible for me to give up my car, even though I work a block from this new development. As for giving people incentives not to take transit, I doubt the price of this garage will undercut other garages, thus not changing the cost/benefit analysis done.

At least this development is removing that hideous Saks building, adding some height the to the corner, contains retail, and for-sale residential. I agree it would be great for everyone to be able to walk to everything, and take transit, but we aren't there yet, and probably won't ever be.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

At least this development is removing that hideous Saks building, adding some height the to the corner, contains retail, and for-sale residential. I agree it would be great for everyone to be able to walk to everything, and take transit, but we aren't there yet, and probably won't ever be.

The bottom line though is if you don't build it, they won't come. You can't build a truly walkable, urban Pittsburgh unless you stop thinking that parking must continually be expanded in Downtown.

That said, I think all of this will be a moot point in 20 years, when self-driving cars will be able to park remotely. We'll be knocking down Downtown garages left and right then.

[wpipkins2]

The Mellon Square garage fills to capacity every weekday morning. With the addition of two hotels, a residential tower (former alcoa) and the condo/apartments, this garage will satisfy a need. The garage will not replace a historic building but it will enhance a blighted block by adding first floor retail on Smithfield St. I rarely drive into downtown sinse the Wilkinsburg park n ride is so convenient not to mention I hate driving. My wife would never ever take the bus into downtown or anywhere period. A parking garage is needed. Im o.k. with garages that have first floor retail. At street level it will not feel like a parking garage. Cities with good public transportation still have a need for garages.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Yeah, but parking garages cost money to build. Generally speaking, a lot of this money is fronted by taxpayers. We already have a transit system which gets people to Downtown. Many people have made the cost-benefit analysis of parking garage versus bus/T, and decided to pick transit because garage space is scarce. By adding more garage space, you give some of those people incentives to not take transit, which hurts the Port Authority.

Add to this that the space could have just been used for downtown apartments or condos without a garage. Many of those units would have gone to someone who was walking to work, and most of them would not have cars, which would have eased the parking situation downtown considerably.

What doesn't cost money to build? The Port Authority is not a private business, it is a tax supported, subsidized entity. The more people that use it, the higher the subsidies, as every ride is subsidized.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

How about they decide to NOT have a parking garage? Stop building parking garages in a dense compact downtown core. STOP.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

How about they decide to NOT have a parking garage? Stop building parking garages in a dense compact downtown core. STOP.

That would be a sure way to make the dense compact core less dense.

If people living in town or their guests, don't have a convenient place to keep their rides, they'll be less anxious to move their in the first place..

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by FallsAngel

What doesn't cost money to build? The Port Authority is not a private business, it is a tax supported, subsidized entity. The more people that use it, the higher the subsidies, as every ride is subsidized.

Not sure that is quite correct. There has to be some optimal point of ridership that maximizes revenue vs. cost. That tipping point on a curve will probably never be achieved - PAT could use MORE ridership at certain days/times, on certain routes.