Dear list, The issue about the proposed parking plan at the proposed 115 unit Hilton was brought up by an individual on the list. Since this issue was brought up, I want you to get an accurate account based on what I know.
There is no well thought out and secure plan as reported by the individual who attended the Penn First Thursday presentation. First to clarify, this Penn presentation is now a series of tightly controlled presentations without any time for discussion. These 8AM meetings, as Liz mentioned, do not meet the standards for open public meetings for attendance by the general community. The suggestion that this was some properly announced public presentation to the community about this Campus Inn plan is simply nonsense. Here is the proposed parking plan as I know it. A 9 space surface lot would be on the far west property line with entrance on Pine. The upscale hotel entrance would also be on Pine. An unsecured assertion is made that valet parking will drive these out of town guests vehicles to some remote unspecified parking lots. Of course, we have to trust the corporate developers, Penn, and Hilton not to abandon this at any time in the future they choose. These unspecified lots will also require a good bit of effort from that location, and there will be lines at peak times. Many of these guests are not going to use this valet service even if the valet service was continued. The closest available lots are not convenient at all to 40th and Pine. I have not heard any comment on the taxi situation at all. When these extended stay guests go around the city are they going to use the trolleys as suggested or taxis? The first exposure of this hotel plan in the Oct 10 UC Review had Mr. Lussenhop making a big point about the trolley lines. I simply don't believe that the assumptions about these Hilton guests taking our trolleys is believable. There will certainly be taxi stands but the developers aren't going to mention this to us until it is too late. This is not an issue for the PHC but I have heard no response at all about handeling taxis. But have these developers been forthcoming about a damn thing? So I agree with Liz, this will cause serious traffic and parking problems in that area; even if we could trust the developers! That area is not a good place for out of town drivers to be driving lost. In fact, as many of us discussed on the list, the situation (since the new Penn building occupied the end of Baltimore Ave. in front of the VA) is one of the most confusing and dangerous in the city. Hope that clears up the confusion about the earlier report about some well thought out believable plan presented publicly at the Penn 8 AM show for the anointed. (After the discussion at the Blackwell run meeting during the Fenton affair, the agenda of the Penn presentations is so tightly packed, no discussion is possible. I was not at this Nov. show but got a report that it was the same packed agenda as Oct. and Lussenhop's was an abbreviated presentation) Sincerely, Glenn __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
