Montreal has been hammering away at parking lots. forcing them removed as fast humanly possible, regardless the inconvenience that policy has on residents.
They do not, however, apply the same rigor to their own parking needs.
Some examples of the hypocrisy and confused policy below.
Parking for you, no, parking for us, yes A glorious, 10,000-square foot piece of land with endless potential sits atop a hill in prime Montreal real estate but, alas, authorities have chosen to keep it for their own parking needs.
Parking lots are bad and must be eliminated, or so goes the new urban doctrine relentlessly pushed by municipal authorities.
Come to Madison and St. James where the borough of NDG owns a huge piece of land that they are employing as a spot to park their snow trucks.
The space, about one kilometre west of the multi-billion dollar new superhospital, was once an eco-centre for recycling.
It's now employed exclusively for various truck-related and storage and maintenance.
You don't see pig farms next to Place Ville Marie, that's because municipal taxes would make such unprofitable land use unsustainable.
But the city does not pay taxes, of course, so they have no such pressure.
But authorities should act responsibly and move the facility to cheaper land in a more industrial area such as Ville St. Pierre where land is more plentiful and less valuable.
It could pay for that rental space with cash it makes from selling off this land and collecting taxes on development.
The city could reduce also reduce or eliminate its truck parking needs simply by contracting out more blue collar services, in which case the truck owners would be responsible for their own parking and maintenance.
Coolopolis would like to see beautiful housing built at the site, as well as parkland and recreational space.
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Point St. Charles parking ban hurts kids
Now let's talk hockey and skating, pursuits which Montreal invests massive amounts of money and effort to provide, mainly to young people whose entire seasons can be paid for with under $400 in (tax deductible) cash, a real steal considering the money parents get from government.
The real challenge about enrolling one's child into hockey isn't the cost of equipment- used skates and shin pads are cheap - but rather the headache of getting the kid to the game.
Lugging a 30 pound bag to remote areas on a bus isn't much of an option and no parent or child does it.
Montreal ensures free parking comes with all rinks, to allow families easier access for their kids sports.
Every rink has about 40 or more spots, with some like the Verdun Auditorium and the St. Henri Mantha arenas offering far more.
However one arena not allow offers zero parking and has banned parking on streets around the facility on the imaginary basis of social progressivism.
The Point St. Charles arena at Hibernia and Grand Trunk (which is not near a metro station) does not offer a single parking spot to relieve the burden of beleaguered hockey parents
It has also removed about 15 parking spaces from the north side of the rink to allow a bike path to pass by the building and parking is forbidden out front too.
The little-used and debatably useful bike path is not operational on the quiet street during the winter but the parking remains banned for reasons which cannot be explained, at a peak demand for the arena and adjacent indoor pool.
The lack of parking hurts locals because it engenders negative feelings towards the area, which effectively acts as a parasite, taking parking when it needs to go to other facilities but offering none when it hosts.
Those driving to the arena - probably about 40 cars per hour - just grab parking in spots which are needed by locals for their own purposes. City councillor Craig Sauve is aware of the situation but so far has not opted to address it.
Montreal subsidizes parking for the poor
You have heard of subsidized housing, but were you aware that Montreal routinely subsidizes exclusive parking spots for the poor, a luxury that most private Montreal home owners cannot even afford themselves?
Residents of the social housing project known as the Habitations Jeanne Mance are allowed to park their cars for about ten bucks a month last time I checked.
Those who live in the complex pay one quarter of their income to live in the premises. Those outside can get a spot but it cost $120 per month, I was told in 2012.
Similar parking is likely available at other subsidized facilities, which begs the question, if these people are so poor, then why do they need cars?
More here: City to remake Jeanne Mance housing project
They do not, however, apply the same rigor to their own parking needs.
Some examples of the hypocrisy and confused policy below.
Parking for you, no, parking for us, yes A glorious, 10,000-square foot piece of land with endless potential sits atop a hill in prime Montreal real estate but, alas, authorities have chosen to keep it for their own parking needs.
Parking lots are bad and must be eliminated, or so goes the new urban doctrine relentlessly pushed by municipal authorities.
Come to Madison and St. James where the borough of NDG owns a huge piece of land that they are employing as a spot to park their snow trucks.
The space, about one kilometre west of the multi-billion dollar new superhospital, was once an eco-centre for recycling.It's now employed exclusively for various truck-related and storage and maintenance.
You don't see pig farms next to Place Ville Marie, that's because municipal taxes would make such unprofitable land use unsustainable.
But the city does not pay taxes, of course, so they have no such pressure.
But authorities should act responsibly and move the facility to cheaper land in a more industrial area such as Ville St. Pierre where land is more plentiful and less valuable.
It could pay for that rental space with cash it makes from selling off this land and collecting taxes on development.
The city could reduce also reduce or eliminate its truck parking needs simply by contracting out more blue collar services, in which case the truck owners would be responsible for their own parking and maintenance.
Coolopolis would like to see beautiful housing built at the site, as well as parkland and recreational space.
***
Point St. Charles parking ban hurts kids
The real challenge about enrolling one's child into hockey isn't the cost of equipment- used skates and shin pads are cheap - but rather the headache of getting the kid to the game.
Lugging a 30 pound bag to remote areas on a bus isn't much of an option and no parent or child does it.
Montreal ensures free parking comes with all rinks, to allow families easier access for their kids sports.
Every rink has about 40 or more spots, with some like the Verdun Auditorium and the St. Henri Mantha arenas offering far more.
However one arena not allow offers zero parking and has banned parking on streets around the facility on the imaginary basis of social progressivism.
The Point St. Charles arena at Hibernia and Grand Trunk (which is not near a metro station) does not offer a single parking spot to relieve the burden of beleaguered hockey parents
It has also removed about 15 parking spaces from the north side of the rink to allow a bike path to pass by the building and parking is forbidden out front too.
The little-used and debatably useful bike path is not operational on the quiet street during the winter but the parking remains banned for reasons which cannot be explained, at a peak demand for the arena and adjacent indoor pool.
The lack of parking hurts locals because it engenders negative feelings towards the area, which effectively acts as a parasite, taking parking when it needs to go to other facilities but offering none when it hosts.
Those driving to the arena - probably about 40 cars per hour - just grab parking in spots which are needed by locals for their own purposes. City councillor Craig Sauve is aware of the situation but so far has not opted to address it.
Montreal subsidizes parking for the poor
You have heard of subsidized housing, but were you aware that Montreal routinely subsidizes exclusive parking spots for the poor, a luxury that most private Montreal home owners cannot even afford themselves?
Residents of the social housing project known as the Habitations Jeanne Mance are allowed to park their cars for about ten bucks a month last time I checked.
Those who live in the complex pay one quarter of their income to live in the premises. Those outside can get a spot but it cost $120 per month, I was told in 2012.
Similar parking is likely available at other subsidized facilities, which begs the question, if these people are so poor, then why do they need cars?
More here: City to remake Jeanne Mance housing project
Is Montreal the only major city that has declared a "war" on downtown parking lots?
ReplyDeleteI have not researched further into this, but it would not surprise me if it has become an issue worldwide.
you need a car to get ahead, my best friend who lived there with his mother and two brothers became successful but he was one fo the very few who had a car as a teen, young man
ReplyDelete