East Washington Avenue: To Park or Not to Park?
This evening on the way to the First Friday Gallery and Design Walk downtown I couldn’t help but notice cars parked on Washington Avenue East of Tucker. This is special because the street has neither parking meters or no-parking signs. So is it allowed or not? Back in December I did a post on this streetscape and had this to say about parking:
Someone made the foolish decision to not have parking on Washington Avenue East of Tucker. This decision is going to have a negative impact on the friendliness of the street by having four lanes of fast moving traffic going by you.The street will seem dead – parked cars have an amazing ability to indicate that something is going on. Can you imagine sitting on one of those benches near the curb line knowing cars, SUVs & buses are going to be whizzing by just a few feet away? Not me!
As a result, these blocks will not be as successful as the blocks to the West. Just imagine the Loop without on-street parking and four lanes of traffic. Yes, you could get through during rush hour much easier but that shouldn’t be the goal. Think of Euclid without street parking – it would be boring and lifeless.
So I was excited to see people parking along this stretch of Washington Avenue. It looked and felt so much better. But later what did I spot attached to the lamp posts with string? No-parking signs. At some point after 6:30pm the city came by and attached temporary “no-parking tow away zone signs.” They weren’t ticketing or towing. They were simply trying to keep the area lifeless and sterile.
Everyone I’ve talked to about this points the finger in one place – Carole Moody, President of The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission. The CVC thinks they need four lanes of traffic to support their conventions. I’m not quite sure why they need that much traffic capacity, can they offer anything to support this need? It seems to me visitors come to a city to see an exciting city, not a blank four lane street. Urban street life will not prosper on Washington Avenue without on-street parking. If you agree with me please send CVC President Carole Moody an email via administrative assistant Bonnie Abler.
And look for a post next week on the St. Louis Convention strategy and the convention hotel that is not living up to expectations.
– Steve
Thanks for pushing this issue. The city is quick to brag about its emerging downtown residential neighborhoods. It is stupid for the city to think a residential neighborhood can flourish on a freeway. Conventioneers stay in downtown hotels, they don’t need free and unobstructed automobile access to every inch of Washington Avenue. That is a lame excuse to tie their want of convenience to a make-believe economic benefit. In fact, I would say it is rather dishonest. Growing the Loft District is a bigger economic opporunity to the city than easing traffic between 5:00 & 5:30 weekdays for people that should be taking the train anyway. Besides, everyone can turn on Tucker, the widest, emptiest street on earth and head towards the real freeway.
Here is the message that I sent to CVC:
Hello,
It is my understanding that by your office’s insistance there is no on-street parking east of Tucker on Washington Avenue. This is an incredible mistake. As we are trying to build an active and attractive environment that is enticing to residents, office workers, and visitors it is paramount that we allow on-street parking for several reasons. First and foremost is safety. Parked cars provide an actual buffer between those on the sidewalk and fast-moving traffic. I cross Washington every day on my way to work and I can’t tell you how many times I have almost been hit by a bus speeding down the right hand lane mere inches from the sidewalk. The sideview mirror of the busses actually hangs OVER the sidewalk. An unsuspecting pedestrian could be hit, not to mention the damage done to the newly planted street trees as they mature. Second is the perception of safety. If people don’t feel protected from traffic they will not use the sidewalk as the incredible outdoor space it could be. Third is quick access to buildings by car. We are trying to build a neighborhood where people are welcome to visit. As lofts sell people will need places for their guests to park. More importantly, though, are the new retail businesses on Washington. How can these businesses be expected to thrive if one can’t just pop in and buy a book or a lamp without having to search a long time for parking on adjacent streets or the absolute inconvenience of parking in a garage? These residents and businesses are what is going to make downtown an attractive place for visitors. They should be thought of first. Fourth, it is an overall traffic calming measure. With cars lining the street motorists do not feel compelled to drive so fast — again it is about safety for all. There is no need to have a high speed thouroughfare to fill up and empty out large events. We are blessed with a marvelous street grid that allows a multitude of routes for access to and from events. Fortunately, there is not just one way in and out like so many of the suburban attractions that make them so terribly congested in times surrounding events and just plain unpleasant at others. Speaking of congestion, a little is a good thing. It creates a lively, active, and DESIRABLE environment. Many of the best urban, pedestrian-friendly places around the world are successful for that very reason.
I hope that your office will reconsider and suggest to the city that we DO indeed need on-street parking on Washington Avenue east of Tucker. One need only look west of Tucker to see the unbelievable difference.
Thank You,
Dusitn Bopp, AIA
Here is the email I sent to the CVC:
I am writing this email to ask CVC President Carole Moody why she is of the opinion that 4-lanes of traffic are needed on Washington Avenue in the City of St. Louis.
On-street parking creates an inherent sense of something going on in the area. A sense of place is created by those drivers, who get out of their cars, and enter shops, restaurants and the like. As an urban planner, I do believe that a convention-goer in our fine city would look more favorably at Washington Avenue if there was, indeed, a significant street life. As promoters of our city, we should be advocating sound planning principles that work together to create a vibrant, walkable and friendly city. If people are to park in a garage, or off the main drag of Washington, we are hardly showing off a friendly place. Instead, without on-street parking, we will have a place that is wide, often desolate and inhibiting to pedestrians and bikers. Can you imagine what our most amazing urban streetscapes (Delmar, Euclid, South Grand, etc.) would look like without on-street parking?
While I appreciate your viewpoint, I do feel this to be a pressing issue. Please support on-street parking on Washington Avenue. Thank you for your time.