Busy day! I had a 3 hour meeting at Boyd’s Jig & Reel with the Old City Association. I was the 100 Block Association representative, I guess. Since I was the only board member who showed up. The rest were busy, I guess. Three hours is a long time to take off in the middle of the day if you own your own business or work outside the downtown area. Anyway, it was a really good, positive meeting and I got free pizza. Win! There is a lot of optimism, energy, and initiative with the Old City business and property owners. I’d say there were 50+ people at the meeting and the majority of them stayed the entire time. It was really good to get an idea of what they want to see happen with their block because most of it overlaps with what we want to see happen with the 100 Block, including safety, better police presence, better street aesthetics, better parking, more green spaces, etc. We got into groups and marked things on maps of the area for improvements. My suggestion was taking the Jackson Avenue lot at Gay and Jackson (because no one parks there because they think it is scary. And it’s true, it is scary) and putting a parking garage there that connected onto the viaduct. And on the top level of the garage, having green space with playground equipment for residents and families and such. I really love that idea. I know it’d be very expensive, but you can’t deny there is a definite need for better, safer parking, and a larger green space for the Old City and the 100 Block. And I think it is important to utilize vertical space in such a high density urban area. We’re soon to have around 750 residents on or directly around the 100 Block, not counting the residents on down Gay or in the Old City. We need parking to suit residents and businesses.
In other news, Paul’s band The Barry Mando project played Preservation Pub last night. Jon and I braved the rain to go watch them and we had a great time. There was a very drunk guy who I think was hitting on me. He spit in my face a little bit while trying to ask me something. I never could understand what he was trying to ask me. Then he almost fell into the lap of the unconscious homeless woman in a wheelchair who was positioned in the middle of the dance floor. I was impressed with how many drunk hippies showed up to the show. Regardless, it was great to see an old friend and I’m glad we got a chance to listen to them perform live. Their live shows are far superior to their recordings.
Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day and so far the plan is for Jon to go to class, then he’s coming back and we’re going on a train ride we’ve had tickets off Groupon for since last year, and then we’re meeting friends at Boyd’s Jig & Reel for dinner. I’m really looking forward to it! So tonight will be low-key to prepare for all the fun we’re going to have tomorrow.
That parking garage location and idea sounds like a really cool idea. I really like the idea of a playground/community park on the top floor!
It is something I would enjoy having located on my block. I also think there is a need for it. I wish the city would seriously consider it.