HomeMy WebLinkAboutPOUDRE VALLEY HOSPITAL SECOND - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - 2011-03-29From: Mark Jackson
To: Darin Atteberry
Date: 6/7/2007 10:20:55 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Poudre Hospital new parking complex
Darin & Co.,
I asked Transportation Staff for their input to this citizen's concerns. It is our professional assessment that
there should be little to no impact to the neighborhood west of the Hospital as a result of PVH plans to
build a parking structure. It may actually improve neighborhood parking pressures currently experienced.
Staff has reviewed the Traffic Impact Study and is comfortable that traffic will predominantly use the
Lemay exit. I have attached various staff input below for your reference. many thanks to Eric Bracke,
Ward Stanford and Sheri Langenberger for their help and quick reply.
Please let us know if you have questions or need additional information.
MJ
I am very familiar with the proposal. It is highly unlikely that there will be any impact on Garfield (other
than construction). Virtually all of the traffic will be access Lemay for redistribution to the system. There is
no reason why any traffic should impact the neighborhood to the west.
Eric
Kind Regards,
Eric L. Bracke, P.E., P.T.O.E.
City Traffic Engineer
(970)224-6062
ebracke@fcgov.com
Reviewing the site plan and considering eventual traffic distributions to and from the parking structure,
there is no real expectation or significant reason for increased traffic on Garfield or throughout the interior
streets of the neighborhood. Lemay is one of the City's best arterial streets for progressing traffic so is not
a condition that encourages cut through traffic. The fact that the Hospital and its area parking has existed
in the same locations, both on street and in lots, has already encouraged what level of traffic use the
neighborhood has ever experienced. To date it has not been of significance nor is truly detectable from
normal neighborhood traffic circulation. The fact that a parking structure is going to provide significantly
more off-street parking with very good Lemay access and advanced walk programming for pedestrians
crossing Lemay at Doctors Ln (parking structure access) promotes the possibility that the area
neighborhood streets could realize a minor reduction in traffic in the immediate surrounding portion of the
neighborhood due to a reduction of motorists circulating about the residential streets looking for a parking
space.
As with most of types of significant improvements near residential areas, the Traffic department will
monitor the area for significant changes and address any problems when and if they develop.
Sincerely,
Ward Stanford
Traffic Systems Engineer
City of Fort Collins
wstanford@fcgov.com
(970) 221-6630
Sheri Langenberger, Engineering Dev. Review Mgr.
Currently this surface parking lot has two driveways out to Robertson and one onto Lemay at the signal at
Timothy E. Smith
Homeowner at 912 Garfield Street
Latin teacher at Ridgeview Classical School
CC: Eric Bracke; Mike Herzig; Polly Bennett
A.
From: Eric Bracke
To: mjackson@fcgov.com,SLangenberger@fcgov.com,WSTANFORD@fcgov.com
Date: 6/5/2007 5:40:35 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Poudre Hospital new parking complex
I am very familiar with the proposal. It is highly unlikely that there will be any impact on Garfield (other
than construction). Virtually all of the traffic will be access Lemay for redistribution to the system. There is
no reason why any traffic should impact the neighborhood to the west.
Eric
Kind Regards,
Eric L. Bracke, P.E., P.T.O.E.
City Traffic Engineer
(970)224-6062
ebracke@fcgov.com
>>> Mark Jackson 06/05/07 3:58 PM >>>
Ward or Sheri,
Are either of you familiar with the PVH plans for the new parking structure at the Lemay campus? Can you
give me some ammo so I can respond to Ben Manvel's request (see below)? This is a classic NIMBY.
Thanks for any help you can lend me.
MJ
>>> Darin Atteberry 6/5/2007 3:39:30 PM >>>
Joe and Mark,
Please draft a response for Darin to Councilman Manvel's request below.
Thank you,
Debra Unger (for Darin Atteberry)
Executive Administrative Assistant
City Manager's Office
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
Tel: 970 2216266 / Fax: 970 224 6107
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:26:02 PM >>>
Darin: I forgot to CC you on this. I hope a staff member can get back to Mr. Smith, and to me. ben
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:24 PM >>>
Thanks for your note, Tim.
I can understand your concern at the possibility that Garfield will become a much busier street when a new
parking structure exists at its east end, on Lemay. I recently investigated the arrangements that have been
made to protect the neighborhood during construction, since 100+ parking places will be temporarily out of
service and found that the hospital has already set up a shuttle system to take people to the large church
parking lot at the corner of Drake and Lemay to keep cars from parking on neighborhood streets.
But that does not help with the question of what impacts the new structure will have when it opens.
Apparently you have heard talk of speed bumps for Garfield, but that is of marginal effectiveness, and not
a great addition for the neighborhood.
n - Re: Fwd: Re: Poudre Hospital new
I am sending a CC of this email to our city manager, Darin Atteberry, in the hope that he will forward your
message to a city staff person who is familiar with the plans and can address your concerns. Is the
structure necessarily going to be built at Lemay and Garfield? If so, what is being done about visual
impacts and traffic impacts? I hope that you will get some informed answers soon, and that copies of
those answers will come to me. After that happens I hope we can talk about how satisfactory the answers
are and what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the situation.
Ben Manvel
p.s. - Congratulations on being on the garden tour. One of my favorite annual summer events!
>>> < tsmith@ridgeviewclassical.com > 5/29/2007 11:45 AM >>>
Dear Mr. Manvel,
We met briefly at last year's neighborhood picnic gatherings on Morgan Street.
I voted for you in the last election.
I'm writing you to voice my concern about the plans for PVH to build a new
parking complex across Lemay from the actual hospital.
I'm very concerned since I live at 912 Garfield Street, only a few blocks from
the proposed garage. My house is on the corner of Garfield and Morgan -
we've got the gardens all around the perimeter of the property.
I hope you are aware of the plans the hospital has to build a 3 story parking
garage and sky -bridge over Lemay. As a homeowner who has devoted many hours
to improving the neighborhood and value of my home over the past 3 years, you
can imagine that I'm not thrilled about the idea of the eyesore and traffic
problems this new parking facility would produce. After just two seasons of
gardening, I was invited to put my house on the Jr. League garden tour. As
much as I enjoy visitors and admirers, I didn't do all that work to have my
house become the featured attraction of commuters to the hospital! Nor did I
move into the neighborhood thinking its peace and quiet would soon come to an
end!
I can't imagine that PVH has explored all of its options for their parking
dilemma if this is the best idea they've come up with. Given all the money
they have to spend on such a big project, maybe there are better places for
such a large structure to be built - above the existing parking lot on the
east side of Lemay, for instance.
Please do whatever you can as council member to educate yourself about this
proposed building and do whatever is necessary to protect the quiet
atmosphere and real estate value of the homes near it. If the parking
structure must be built there, please do whatever you can to prevent a surge
in the traffic on our quiet street. The developer's proposal of adding speed
bumps does not quite cut the mustard either - the addition of such a big
building is drastic and needs drastic compensation: for example, making
Garfield street into a no -outlet culdesac with no access to the garage so
that the quiet streets do not become the main thoroughfare.
In any case, I am terribly concerned about the changes the parking structure
might bring. Please do what you can to prevent changes to our neighborhood,
our real estate value, our quiet lifestyle in an old part of town.
Please feel free to drop by the house any time to chat about this further
Sincerely,
Timothy E. Smith
Homeowner at 912 Garfield Street
Latin teacher at Ridgeview Classical School
CC: MHERZIG@fcgov.com,PBennett@fcgov.com
nE INORTHERN
ENGINEERING
June 27, 2007
Mr. Randy Maizland
City of Fort Collins
Engineering Review
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
ADDRESS: PHONE:970.221.4158 WEBSITE:
200 S. College Ave. Suite 100 www.northernengineering.com
Fort Collins, CO 80524 FAX: 970.221.4159
RE: PVH Lemay Campus -West Expansion
Medical Office Building
Parking Structure
Mr. Maizland,
This letter is in regards to the PVH Lemay Campus -West Expansion project. The
site is located at the west corners of Garfield Street and Lemay Avenue and is being
developed by Poudre Valley Hospital. The project is currently in the PDP process
and at this time a variance is requested to modify the standard widths and locations
of the sidewalks located adjacent to Garfield Street and the west side of Lemay
Avenue adjacent to the site.
Chapter 7 of the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards (LCUASS) addresses
the Street Design and Technical Criteria for public roadways. More specifically,
sidewalk widths and locations for four -lane arterial and local streets are shown in
Figures 7-2F and 7-6F respectively. Per the Standards, Lemay Avenue, a four -lane
arterial street, the sidewalks must be detached a minimum of 10-feet from the curb
and gutter and must have a minimum width of 6-feet. For Garfield Street, a local
street, the sidewalks must be detached a minimum of 6-feet and have a minimum
width of 5-feet.
The south site currently has a childcare facility on the property which will be removed
for the placement of a new four story medical office building. The north site contains
a surface parking lot for PVH employees and a small medical office building which
will be removed for the placement of a new four story parking structure. Both sites
currently have a large number of mature trees. Several of these trees will need to be
mitigated due to the placement of the new buildings and parking area; however, a
large number of the mature trees are located around the perimeter of the site and
adjacent to the existing attached sidewalks along Garfield Street and Lemay
Avenue. With the current LCUASS requirements, a large number of these mature
trees along the site perimeter would be affected by detaching and widening the
existing attached sidewalks. Poudre Valley Hospital is requesting that the site be
issued a variance to these standards in order to save as many of the mature trees as
possible.
nE NORTHERN ADDRESS: PHONE: 970.221.4158
ENGINEERING 200 S. College Ave. Suite 100 WEBSITE:
Fort Collins, CO 80524 FAX: 970.221.4159 www.northernengineering.com
The development team for the project is proposing that the existing attached
sidewalks along Garfield Street be allowed to remain. Additional concrete sidewalk
will be placed adjacent to the existing sidewalk to create a total width of 6.5-feet.
This will help reduce the number of trees affected adjacent to Garfield Street
For Lemay Avenue, the development team for the project is proposing that the
existing attached sidewalk be removed and be replaced where possible with
detached 6-foot sidewalk. However, the configuration of this walk varies in order to
avoid several mature trees along the Lemay Avenue frontage. Starting on the north
end of the site, the sidewalk is proposed to be attached adjacent to the new auxillary
right -turn lane into the parking structure. South of the parking structure entrance to
Garfield Street, we propose to detach the 6-foot walk, but meander it in the same
general location as the existing detached walk in order to avoid trees in this area.
South of Garfield Street, we propose a typical 6-foot detached sidewalk, then a
transition to a new 8-foot attached walk to avoid trees, access a Transfort bus
shelter, and tie to the existing attached walk at the south property line.
The development team feels justified in requesting the variance as described above.
By placing the sidewalks on the site as proposed, a large number of mature trees will
not need to be removed and mitigated on the site. Having these mature trees
adjacent to the medical office building and parking structure will also help the
proposed buildings to blend into an already mature landscape adjacent to the
property and may help minimize the impact the buildings may have on the
surrounding residential area. Along with this, placing the sidewalks as proposed will
also help tie them into the existing residential sidewalks in the area, further
minimizing the building's impact.
If you should have any questions, comments or concerns about this variance request
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brazelton, PE
Project Engineer
cc: Steven Ellsworth — Poudre Valley Health System
Dean Barber — McWhinney Enterprises
From: Eric Bracke
To: Randy Maizland; Ted Shepard; Ward Stanford
Date: 7/17/2007 2:15:40 PM
Subject: PVH Parking Garage
Hi,
I just met with some folks who live on Garfield and are concerned with potential impacts of the pvh parking
garage to their neighborhood traffic. We have conducted some base line counts and speeds along
Garfield and there is indeed a speeding problem but no volume problem.
I would like to suggest that we work with PVH to escrow approximately $5k to purchase a variable speed
sign if an impact occurs within one year after construction. We have done something similar to this with
the Penny Flats folks.
If there is an impact to the neighborhood and there is no money escrowed, the City will be stuck with the
problem and no way to fund a solution.
Just a thought or something to pursue. PVH has historically taken the approach of being a good
neighborhood and may be receptive to the idea.
Since I won't be around, it will be up to the three of you to pursue, if you choose.
Eric
new parking com
e
Doctors Lane
The proposed parking structure is shown to have 1 driveway out to Robertson and the one access onto
Lemay at Doctors Lane. So the new plans would be a reduction in the number of driveways going out to
Robertson.
I had thought we had approved a plan where the hospital was wanting to close the Lemay access and just
take access off of Robertson, but we didn't. We talked about this with them many times, but didn't actually
ever completely follow thru with getting those plans approved - probably because they decided to proceed
with the parking garage.
There has been a minor amendment approved for a temporary lot over off of Academy Court (off of
Prospect near Riverside) for which they are going to be providing a shuttle service for employees.
Since Garfield is not signalized I would think that most folks unless they want to go south, in which case
they could go directly out to Lemay from the lot, would take Robertson north to Elizabeth since it is the
signal.
Hope this helps.
Sheri
>>> Darin Atteberry 6/5/2007 3:39 PM >>>
Joe and Mark,
Please draft a response for Darin to Councilman Manvel's request below
Thank you,
Debra Unger (for Darin Atteberry)
Executive Administrative Assistant
City Manager's Office
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
Tel: 970 2216266 / Fax: 970 224 6107
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:26:02 PM >>>
Darin: I forgot to CC you on this. I hope a staff member can get back to Mr. Smith, and to me. ben
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:24 PM >>>
Thanks for your note, Tim.
I can understand your concern at the possibility that Garfield will become a much busier street when a new
parking structure exists at its east end, on Lemay. I recently investigated the arrangements that have been
made to protect the neighborhood during construction, since 100+ parking places will be temporarily out of
service and found that the hospital has already set up a shuttle system to take people to the large church
parking lot at the corner of Drake and Lemay to keep cars from parking on neighborhood streets.
But that does not help with the question of what impacts the new structure will have when it opens.
Apparently you have heard talk of speed bumps for Garfield, but that is of marginal effectiveness, and not
a great addition for the neighborhood.
I am sending a CC of this email to our city manager, Darin Atteberry, in the hope that he will forward your
message to a city staff person who is familiar with the plans and can address your concerns. Is the
structure necessarily going to be built at Lemay and Garfield? If so, what is being done about visual
impacts and traffic impacts? I hope that you will get some informed answers soon, and that copies of
those answers will come to me. After that happens I hope we can talk about how satisfactory the answers
are and what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the situation.
Ben Manvel
p.s. - Congratulations on being on the garden tour. One of my favorite annual summer events!
>>> < tsmith(a)ridgeviewclassical com > 5/29/2007 11:45 AM >>>
Dear Mr. Manvel,
We met briefly at last year's neighborhood picnic gatherings on Morgan Street.
I voted for you in the last election.
I'm writing you to voice my concern about the plans for PVH to build a new
parking complex across Lemay from the actual hospital.
I'm very concerned since I live at 912 Garfield Street, only a few blocks from
the proposed garage. My house is on the corner of Garfield and Morgan -
we've got the gardens all around the perimeter of the property.
I hope you are aware of the plans the hospital has to build a 3 story parking
garage and sky -bridge over Lemay. As a homeowner who has devoted many hours
to improving the neighborhood and value of my home over the past 3 years, you
can imagine that I'm not thrilled about the idea of the eyesore and traffic
problems this new parking facility would produce. After just two seasons of
gardening, I was invited to put my house on the Jr. League garden tour. As
much as I enjoy visitors and admirers, I didn't do all that work to have my
house become the featured attraction of commuters to the hospital! Nor did I
move into the neighborhood thinking its peace and quiet would soon come to an
end!
I can't imagine that PVH has explored all of its options for their parking
dilemma if this is the best idea they've come up with. Given all the money
they have to spend on such a big project, maybe there are better places for
such a large structure to be built - above the existing parking lot on the
east side of Lemay, for instance.
Please do whatever you can as council member to educate yourself about this
proposed building and do whatever is necessary to protect the quiet
atmosphere and real estate value of the homes near it. If the parking
structure must be built there, please do whatever you can to prevent a surge
in the traffic on our quiet street. The developer's proposal of adding speed
bumps does not quite cut the mustard either - the addition of such a big
building is drastic and needs drastic compensation: for example, making
Garfield street into a no -outlet culdesac with no access to the garage so
that the quiet streets do not become the main thoroughfare.
In any case, I am terribly concerned about the changes the parking structure
might bring. Please do what you can to prevent changes to our neighborhood,
our real estate value, our quiet lifestyle in an old part of town.
Please feel free to drop by the house any time to chat about this further.
new parking corn
Sincerely,
Timothy E. Smith
Homeowner at 912 Garfield Street
Latin teacher at Ridgeview Classical School
CC: Debra Unger; Diane Jones; Eric Bracke; Joe Frank; Patty Storm; Polly Bennett; Rick
Richter; Sheri Langenberger; Ward Stanford
From: Ward Stanford
To: Mark Jackson; Sheri Langenberger
Date: 6/6/2007 11:39:39 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Poudre Hospital new parking complex
Reviewing the site plan and considering eventual traffic distributions to and from the parking structure,
there is no real expectation or significant reason for increased traffic on Garfield or throughout the interior
streets of the neighborhood. Lemay is one of the City's best arterial streets for progressing traffic so is not
a condition that encourages cut through traffic. The fact that the Hospital and its area parking has existed
in the same locations, both on street and in lots, has already encouraged what level of traffic use the
neighborhood has ever experienced. To date it has not been of significance nor is truly detectable from
normal neighborhood traffic circulation. The fact that a parking structure is going to provide significantly
more off-street parking with very good Lemay access and advanced walk programming for pedestrians
crossing Lemay at Doctors Ln (parking structure access) promotes the possibility that the area
neighborhood streets could realize a minor reduction in traffic in the immediate surrounding portion of the
neighborhood due to a reduction of motorists circulating about the residential streets looking fora parking
space.
As with most of types of significant improvements near residential areas, the Traffic department will
monitor the area for significant changes and address any problems when and if they develop.
Sincerely,
Ward Stanford
Traffic Systems Engineer
City of Fort Collins
wstanford@fcgov.com
(970) 221-6630
>>> Mark Jackson 6/5/2007 3:58 PM >>>
Ward or Sheri,
Are either of you familiar with the PVH plans for the new parking structure at the Lemay campus? Can you
give me some ammo so I can respond to Ben Manvel's request (see below)? This is a classic NIMBY.
Thanks for any help you can lend me.
MJ
>>> Darin Atteberry 6/5/2007 3:39:30 PM >>>
Joe and Mark,
Please draft a response for Darin to Councilman Manvel's request below.
Thank you,
Debra Unger (for Darin Atteberry)
Executive Administrative Assistant
City Manager's Office
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
Tel: 970 221 6266 / Fax: 970 224 6107
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:26:02 PM >>>
Darin: I forgot to CC you on this. I hope a staff member can get back to Mr. Smith, and to me. ben
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:24 PM >>>
Thanks for your note, Tim.
I can understand your concern at the possibility that Garfield will become a much busier street when a new
parking structure exists at its east end, on Lemay. I recently investigated the arrangements that have been
made to protect the neighborhood during construction, since 100+ parking places will be temporarily out of
service and found that the hospital has already set up a shuttle system to take people to the large church
parking lot at the corner of Drake and Lemay to keep cars from parking on neighborhood streets.
But that does not help with the question of what impacts the new structure will have when it opens.
Apparently you have heard talk of speed bumps for Garfield, but that is of marginal effectiveness, and not
a great addition for the neighborhood.
I am sending a CC of this email to our city manager, Darin Atteberry, in the hope that he will forward your
message to a city staff person who is familiar with the plans and can address your concerns. Is the
structure necessarily going to be built at Lemay and Garfield? If so, what is being done about visual
impacts and traffic impacts? I hope that you will get some informed answers soon, and that copies of
those answers will come to me. After that happens I hope we can talk about how satisfactory the answers
are and what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the situation.
Ben Manvel
p.s. - Congratulations on being on the garden tour. One of my favorite annual summer events!
>>> < tsmithCcD-ridgeviewclassical com > 5/29/2007 11:45 AM >>>
Dear Mr. Manvel,
We met briefly at last year's neighborhood picnic gatherings on Morgan Street.
I voted for you in the last election.
I'm writing you to voice my concern about the plans for PVH to build a new
parking complex across Lemay from the actual hospital.
I'm very concerned since I live at 912 Garfield Street, only a few blocks from
the proposed garage. My house is on the corner of Garfield and Morgan -
we've got the gardens all around the perimeter of the property.
I hope you are aware of the plans the hospital has to build a 3 story parking
garage and sky -bridge over Lemay. As a homeowner who has devoted many hours
to improving the neighborhood and value of my home over the past 3 years, you
can imagine that I'm not thrilled about the idea of the eyesore and traffic
problems this new parking facility would produce. After just two seasons of
gardening, I was invited to put my house on the Jr. League garden tour. As
much as I enjoy visitors and admirers, I didn't do all that work to have my
house become the featured attraction of commuters to the hospital! Nor did I
move into the neighborhood thinking its peace and quiet would soon come to an
end!
I can't imagine that PVH has explored all of its options for their parking
dilemma if this is the best idea they've come up with. Given all the money
they have to spend on such a big project, maybe there are better places for
such a large structure to be built - above the existing parking lot on the
east side of Lemay, for instance.
-� ..0 ruucare Hospital new arkm com
Please do whatever you can as council member to educate yourself about this
proposed building and do whatever is necessary to protect the quiet
atmosphere and real estate value of the homes near it. If the parking
structure must be built there, please do whatever you can to prevent a surge
in the traffic on our quiet street. The developer's proposal of adding speed
bumps does not quite cut the mustard either - the addition of such a big
building is drastic and needs drastic compensation: for example, making
Garfield street into a no -outlet culdesac with no access to the garage so
that the quiet streets do not become the main thoroughfare.
In any case, I am terribly concerned about the changes the parking structure
might bring. Please do what you can to prevent changes to our neighborhood,
our real estate value, our quiet lifestyle in an old part of town.
Please feel free to drop by the house any time to chat about this further.
Sincerely,
Timothy E. Smith
Homeowner at 912 Garfield Street
Latin teacher at Ridgeview Classical School
CC: Eric Bracke; Mike Herzig; Polly Bennett
From: Ward Stanford
To: Mark Jackson; Sheri Langenberger
Date: 6/5/2007 4:58:36 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Poudre Hospital new parking complex
Mark,
I received the Dev Rev documents recently, but have not reviewed the inch thick TIS yet. I will do so
Wednesday (barring any fires) and give you some input from the Traffic perspective. I do not know what
prelim discussions may have taken place, if any, prior to now, but will try to get you what I can learn
ASAP.
WS.
>>> Mark Jackson 6/5/2007 3:58 PM >>>
Ward or Sheri,
Are either of you familiar with the PVH plans for the new parking structure at the Lemay campus? Can you
give me some ammo so I can respond to Ben Manvel's request (see below)? This is a classic NIMBY.
Thanks for any help you can lend me.
MJ
>>> Darin Atteberry 6/5/2007 3:39:30 PM >>>
Joe and Mark,
Please draft a response for Darin to Councilman Manvel's request below.
Thank you,
Debra Unger (for Darin Atteberry)
Executive Administrative Assistant
City Manager's Office
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
Tel: 970 2216266 / Fax: 970 224 6107
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:26:02 PM >>>
Darin: I forgot to CC you on this. I hope a staff member can get back to Mr. Smith, and to me. ben
>>> Ben Manvel 5/29/2007 1:24 PM >>>
Thanks for your note, Tim.
I can understand your concern at the possibility that Garfield will become a much busier street when a new
parking structure exists at its east end, on Lemay. I recently investigated the arrangements that have been
made to protect the neighborhood during construction, since 100+ parking places will be temporarily out of
service and found that the hospital has already set up a shuttle system to take people to the large church
parking lot at the corner of Drake and Lemay to keep cars from parking on neighborhood streets.
But that does not help with the question of what impacts the new structure will have when it opens.
Apparently you have heard talk of speed bumps for Garfield, but that is of marginal effectiveness, and not
a great addition for the neighborhood.
I am sending a CC of this email to our city manager, Darin Atteberry, in the hope that he will forward your
message to a city staff person who is familiar with the plans and can address your concerns. Is the
structure necessarily going to be built at Lemay and Garfield? If so, what is being done about visual
impacts and traffic impacts? I hope that you will get some informed answers soon, and that copies of
those answers will come to me. After that happens I hope we can talk about how satisfactory the answers
are and what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the situation.
Ben Manvel
p.s. - Congratulations on being on the garden tour. One of my favorite annual summer events!
>>> < tsmith(cDridgeviewclassical com > 5/29/2007 11:45 AM >>>
Dear Mr. Manvel,
We met briefly at last year's neighborhood picnic gatherings on Morgan Street.
I voted for you in the last election.
I'm writing you to voice my concern about the plans for PVH to build a new
parking complex across Lemay from the actual hospital.
I'm very concerned since I live at 912 Garfield Street, only a few blocks from
the proposed garage. My house is on the corner of Garfield and Morgan -
we've got the gardens all around the perimeter of the property.
I hope you are aware of the plans the hospital has to build a 3 story parking
garage and sky -bridge over Lemay. As a homeowner who has devoted many hours
to improving the neighborhood and value of my home over the past 3 years, you
can imagine that I'm not thrilled about the idea of the eyesore and traffic
problems this new parking facility would produce. After just two seasons of
gardening, I was invited to put my house on the Jr. League garden tour. As
much as I enjoy visitors and admirers, I didn't do all that work to have my
house become the featured attraction of commuters to the hospital! Nor did I
move into the neighborhood thinking its peace and quiet would soon come to an
end!
I can't imagine that PVH has explored all of its options for their parking
dilemma if this is the best idea they've come up with. Given all the money
they have to spend on such a big project, maybe there are better places for
such a large structure to be built - above the existing parking lot on the
east side of Lemay, for instance.
Please do whatever you can as council member to educate yourself about this
proposed building and do whatever is necessary to protect the quiet
atmosphere and real estate value of the homes near it. If the parking
structure must be built there, please do whatever you can to prevent a surge
in the traffic on our quiet street. The developer's proposal of adding speed
bumps does not quite cut the mustard either - the addition of such a big
building is drastic and needs drastic compensation: for example, making
Garfield street into a no -outlet culdesac with no access to the garage so
that the quiet streets do not become the main thoroughfare.
In any case, I am terribly concerned about the changes the parking structure
might bring. Please do what you can to prevent changes to our neighborhood,
our real estate value, our quiet lifestyle in an old part of town.
Please feel free to drop by the house any time to chat about this further
Sincerely,