Another view on parking garages

I am writing to share ideas on the proposed parking structure at the corner of Central and Spokane. I have been involved in previous plans to develop the lot just west of Whitefish Middle School and understand some of the dynamics of this proposed project.

I understand the need for parking downtown; however, I am concerned about some of the impacts of a large three-story parking garage in the center of downtown.

Locating the Chamber of Commerce, state tourism center, Glacier National Park Fund, public restrooms and a possible museum or retail/office space to the southern portion of the lot is a good idea and a good location for a centrally located one-stop tourism center in order to get information on all of the great activities that this area offers.

This would be a catalyst for bringing people into the business district. I think a small landscaped plaza located on the southern corner of Second and Spokane would be an awesome location for the Whitefish sculpture/fountain and an area for people to gather outside of the tourism center on Second Street. A transit center could also be established at this location.

I believe the proposed three-story parking garage will impact the adjacent cityscape by casting a shadow over adjacent properties depending on the location of the sun, such as the west wall of Whitefish Middle School and courtyard on a winter afternoon.

A parking garage is a dead zone. It will provide parking for our cars but no place for people to sit or pass through to other destinations. The children from the middle school will have to walk around the parking structure and avoid the structure as it will create voids that are not people-friendly and present security issues.

It presents a monolithic wall that will contain cars but no people and require lighting 24 hours a day. A false facade will help hide the garage but not the effect of its presence.

I believe a single street-level parking lot could provide about 80 cars as well as the tourist/retail center to the south. We could plant many trees and shrubs that would help offset the carbon footprint of the autos we will park there.

"Satellite parking" areas could distribute the parking around the downtown area. The empty lot where the Episcopal Church used to be would be a great location for a satellite parking area that could accommodate about 30 cars at grade level with extensive landscaping to buffer the cars as well as mitigate the heat-island effect of barren parking spaces. Parking garages are cold and difficult to get in and out. They are a last resort for people looking to park a car.

What are the costs? $4.6 million-plus for a garage that would show a net gain of maybe a 100 cars versus a street-level parking lot with trees and benches and light that could provide 80 cars at street level.

This amounts to about $46,000 per parking space. Is it worth it? What could we do to promote public transportation? A yearlong local bus service utilizing Glacier Park-type buses to move people around town, to the Big Mountain, Kalispell and Columbia Falls, would help alleviate some of the parking issues.

Smaller lots would be a less expensive and more people-friendly option that could lessen the need for such a structure. What is the additional tax burden to a typical property?

How can we look to the future and make this project something special for Whitefish? I know the difficulties in getting any project to fruition, and I support and understand the work that the city staff, consultants and committees have performed.

We have common goals, and that is a vibrant and attractive business district that provides the most cost-effective way to prepare for the future of Whitefish.

Doug Rhodes is an architect who lives in Whitefish.