Downtown Parking

[Southron]

The city is building two new parking decks, in addition to the intermodal transportation center deck that is nearly completed. Developers expect the additional parking to help continue the surge in riverfront redevelopment and facilitate redevelopment along Dexter Avenue.

Demolition for the new lower Dexter parking deck is under way. The Hill building (corner of Washington and S. Perry) is being demolished, along with the rear portions of some of the historic buildings in that block of S. Perry St.

Intermodal Center includes 380 parking spaces

North side, facing the railroad and river

[Southron]

City engineers will meet today with potential bidders for a $6 million parking deck project on Coosa Street across from Riverwalk Stadium. The project is expected to take about a year to complete. Unless plans have changed, the deck will be built to support a condo development on top, with additional floors to be added later by a private developer.

Site demolition was completed for a $7 million parking deck at the corner of Washington Avenue and South Perry Street, but construction has not yet begun. Both decks will include more than 300 parking spaces.

Montgomery Advertiser: City to add parking decks downtown

[Southron]

Coosa St. parking deck construction site across from Riverwalk Stadium

Lower Dexter parking deck site

[Southron]

Photo update - municipal parking decks under construction:

Coosa Street deck

Dexter Ave deck (from Washington Ave)

[Southron]

Construction update 10/5/08:

Coosa Street parking deck

Washington Ave/Dexter Ave parking deck

[Southron]

Photo update 10/19/08:

Alley/rear view of Coosa St. parking garage

Washington Ave/Dexter Ave deck

[nowyano]

<<Threads merged.>>

Parking in and around the Alley

What is the deal with the parking in the middle of the road? It makes an otherwise great project look low budget. Why are they allowing people to line the main streets in the middle, as opposed to parking in (a) the several parking garages immediately around or (b) in the plentiful amount of spaces in the surrounding blocks. It would make the area look better and would increase foot traffic which would make for a more urban feel, even if everyone were heading to the Alley.

Are there plans for the medians? I have heard everything from light rail running from the Capital to the Riverfront, to bus rapid transit late doing the same thing, to planting trees in the middle (a la Savannah). Either way the parking looks horrendous.

[Southron]

What is the deal with the parking in the middle of the road? It makes an otherwise great project look low budget. Why are they allowing people to line the main streets in the middle, as opposed to parking in (a) the several parking garages immediately around or (b) in the plentiful amount of spaces in the surrounding blocks. It would make the area look better and would increase foot traffic which would make for a more urban feel, even if everyone were heading to the Alley.

Are there plans for the medians? I have heard everything from light rail running from the Capital to the Riverfront, to bus rapid transit late doing the same thing, to planting trees in the middle (a la Savannah). Either way the parking looks horrendous.

Parking in the median is only allowed on Commerce Street and part of Montgomery Street I believe. It's been that way on Commerce for decades. Streetcars running from the capitol to the riverfront were part of the downtown master plan, but that may not happen. We should have a better idea about intended use of the medians once the Dexter Ave Streetscape Improvement Plan is released.

You're right, people should use the parking garages, but many don't know they are there and aren't accustomed to using them. That will likely change as more and more surface lots disappear over the next few years.