First came the Parker Harding Plaza redesign. Merchants and shoppers howled at the loss of 44 parking spaces.
Then came the solution: adding those spots at Jesup Green. Residents howled at the loss of several century-old trees.
This week, the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee will unveil its latest concept: a 3-story parking deck, covering virtually all of Parker Harding Plaza.
“I’m not sure why this hasn’t been proposed before,” says DPIC chair Randy Herbertson.
“The Baldwin lot (behind Brooks Corner) was considered for decking, but it was renovated last year without a structure.
The latest proposal: a 3-story parking structure for Parker Harding.
“Parker Harding is probably a better site. It’s even closer to Main Street. There are entrances and exits at both ends.
“And we not only won’t lose river views — we’ll gain them, by putting a park on top of the parking garage. There will be walkways, benches, trees and flowers. People could even fish from there.”
The park would cover the entire area of the parking structure.
Herbertson says that although some spaces would be lost on the lowest level due to reconfiguration to meet federal Department of Transportation and Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the entire 3-story parking lot would have “650 to 750” parking spots.
That would be enough to solve the entire downtown problem, he says — without removing a single tree from Jesup Green.
Click here to see architectural renderings of the plan.
Smashing idea…what else can we do to be more like Stamford.
Dan, We could have more pot holes on our streets.
You own today’s song, ‘Everybody Plays the Fool’.
Don’t be so quick ion the draw Cowboy!
Not all cowboys are quick on the draw, Davy.
👀 🫢
Hilarious!
I am an easy mark. Got me again Dan!
First thing I did when I woke up was to see what you’d write. I love the idea of a park on top of the garage. Great one!
You got me again Dan 🙂
🤣🤣🤣👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Brilliant Dan
That is a cruel joke! 😆 I was rather looking forward to Westport’s version of the Highline.
Whoa ! You did it again !
This is a great idea! More parking and more greenery downtown.
Got me!
Well done Dan! 😆
You always put a nugget of truth in the middle!!
I would vote for your downtown parking proposal!!
Well done!!
You got.me!!!!
Right next to the river? what a horrible idea!
Other than fishing the river from 25 feet in the air, this is the best idea I’ve seen (other than putting a second deck behind Brooks Corner). Of course it landed today 🙂
Bingo!
April fools
Read the headline and knew it was April Fools
This is a great idea and should be plan if executed right with a good design and features.
Alas though there are always some here who will always arguing with their undertaker that the style and color of their coffin lining is all wrong!
GOT ME!
Good one Dan..You had me for a second.
Good on you, Dan!
Fishing from the deck was the clincher, but deck parking is a valid option. Of course, people have been proposing it for the over-40 years that I have lived here. Well done spoof, Dan!
FUNNY MAN !!
April Fools… with a twist. Thanks for the perennial post.
Good one.
Checks date……
I’m so disappointed that this is a joke. I believe a parking garage is desperately needed in our town.
EXcellent, Dan! 🙌 Happy 4/1/24.
You got me!
As an avid fisherman who tries to get out every morning before work, the thought of fishing from on top of the parking garage, let alone casting into the river and across the park benches, get me thinking of what a ridiculous idea this was…until I saw it was an April Fools joke!!! Good one!
Dan,
Having forgotten it was April Fool’s Day, my reaction to your piece was a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
In a Town where placing public art requires a litany of approvals, and overdue and functional necessities like bus shelters requires the appointment of a new committee for review and consensus, years in advance of construction, I couldn’t imagine a plan of that magnitude being kept under wraps until now.
Hence, when I clicked on the link I envisioned nothing more that an artist’s rendering at best.
If I was shocked by anything, it was realization after the joke was revealed, that when it comes to Town proposals, I am finally unshockable.
A good one! Might solve a big problem though.
I fell for it! 🤦♀️😆
You’ve got to be kidding me….who’s running this show?
You got me big time, Dan!