The following editorial appeared in the November 6 edition of the Guelph Mercury followed by a response by Ian Findlay:
We shouldn’t be surprised by the current global economic situation. Yes, the severity of the crisis when it hit was shocking — though its arrival was not entirely unpredictable.
We’ve been told that Guelph is better off than average, given our solid mix of industries. But we’re far from untouched. We heard this week that profits at Linamar Corp., Guelph’s largest employer, fell 56 per cent in the third quarter. A plan to reduce overhead structural costs by $40 million sounds likely to include layoffs — on top of those earlier this year. And last month we heard the University of Guelph was cutting 142 jobs. So even if the pain here doesn’t become as acute as elsewhere, it seems there’s a serious belt-tightening in the cards.
Which brings us to parking. Baker Street has long been on the books as home to a new parking garage. We’ve heard the arguments before — we’re in a time of downtown densification, and Stone Road Mall has acres of free parking. Fine.
Long after we’d accepted that, a garage for Wilson Street came seemingly out of nowhere, leapfrogging Baker. So there’s a plan that currently has 395 spots opening on Wilson in May 2010 and as many as 500 on Baker two years or so later. Oh, there’s a price tag, too: $14.75 million for Wilson and $15.75 million for Baker.
Capital investment in the downtown is important. Encouraging people to come despite the plentiful free parking elsewhere is difficult but essential to continuing the quality of life we’ve grown accustomed to. But we’re struggling to find compelling reasons to spend about $30 million for two large parking garages, to be built almost simultaneously, especially with economic storm clouds on the horizon. The idea seems an ambitious one even for good times, and presumes a level of investment in the downtown that, in these uncertain times, we’re not convinced will arrive. It presumes the ability of Guelph residents to sustain these ideas through property tax, and the continued desire of people to drive downtown and park.
We’ve asked this before, and we’ll ask it again: please be wise with our money. A garage is an ambitious though perhaps necessary project. If you’re sure it’s necessary, please build one. Then wait, count cars, wait some more, count some more. Then come back with evidence a second is needed.
And while we’re on the topic, we’ll suggest starting with Baker. With a library and condos set to go there, it’s an ambitious and exciting project that’ll be hard to take off the books if Wilson turns out to satisfy our parking needs.
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During the 2006 municipal election, Downtown revitalization was identified as a top priority by Guelph residents.
The Province of Ontario’s Places to Grow legislation puts a heavy emphasis on growth within established areas such as Downtowns. By 2015, 40% of new residences must be within the defined built boundry.
One of the biggest obstacles that has been identified for further residential and commercial development in Downtown Guelph is the lack of long term parking. In fact, in a recent staff report 333 new parking spots would need to be created to meet the need in the south end of Downtown.
The proposed Wilson Street Parkade will help meet that need.
In a greenfield development, developers are responsible for providing parking. In the urban core, it is the City’s responsiblity.
The Wilson St. site is tightly confined. Bounded by Norwich and Wilson Streets and the Rail line, it is not practical for intensive residential or commercial development.
To maximize the economic potential for this location, a parking structure makes sense.
The Walter Fedy Partnership has created a conceptual design that tries to capture the “Guelph look”. Bookended by the Church of our Lady and the new City Hall, a concrete slab building would look entirely out of place and would not meet our urban design guidelines.
Included within the parkade will be provisions for bicycle storage, a cafe, parking offices and public washrooms.
The Wilson St. Parkade is expected to be completed sometime in 2010. Hopefully, the economic storm clouds will have disappaited by then. Ian