Imagination

[turil.livejournal.com]

What if the metered parking spaces were opened up to other uses, in addition to parking a car? What would you do if you could rent a space on the side of the street in Davis Square for a dollar an hour (or whatever it's up to these days) to use as a farm stand to sell the veggies you grew in your community garden, or a Bull Market cart to sell your handmade socks, or a space to put your Tarot readings tent, or whatever other legal, private use you can imagine might be appropriate for a bit of temporary business-zoned square footage in the square...

Comments

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Creative though it might be, I'm pretty sure some frustrated motorist who hasn't been able to find parking might "accidentally" run into such a stand because--paid for or not--it's one less space usable for cars.

Though more fairs that have that sort of thing might be welcome, in the space they put the farmers' market, maybe.

[ron_newman]

I like this idea. Anyone who is willing to pay the meter charges should be able to use the space for the time they paid. (But they would also need to move on after 2 hours, and not re-feed the meter.)

[turil.livejournal.com]

Indeed, but lots of frustrated motorists "accidentally" run into all kinds of things, kids, old ladies, dogs, telephone poles, other cars, trees, and pretty much everything else in reach. Fortunately most folks still keep doing things that they want to do, like walk around Davis Square, plant trees next to the road, walk their dogs, make babies, and all kinds of other things that might someday be run over by a car, because, well... if we let cars be the excuse for not doing good, useful, fun things, then the cars win! :-)

[ellf.livejournal.com]

I dislike this idea. There are provisions for this - get a permit from City Hall, etc. - that provide a measure of control for how densely populated an area can be with certain types of businesses and uses. I imagine that opening up parking spaces to -whatever- would increase the burden on the police, fire, and emergency services, as well as crowd the already narrow streets.

Parking spaces for cars. Public spaces (parks, gardens, whatever) for public use. Commercial space for businesses. It isn't Free, but it works.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

I would like to see a plywood cut-out of a car that made the front of a lemonade stand. Or maybe someone selling lemonade from their actual car. But somehow things sold out of cars suddenly become shady, dangerous deals.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I think this is a brilliant idea. Anything to keep cars out of the Square (why anyone would drive in Davis Square, let alone try to park there, is beyond me, but so are a lot of things people do).

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I see this ending in fire.

There's actually an excellent reason they don't do this: lines. People line up at the stall and where does the line have to go but the road?

Now, if they wanted to implement metered stall space in, say, public parks, I think that'd be interesting. Just not parking spaces, people don't need to risk death to get ice cream.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

You are aware that Davis is a major intersection for three major traffic routes in Somerville, right?

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

That is an absolutely beautiful idea. There's not enough parking, but there's not enough public space either, and I think we're likely to need parking less than we need public space.as time goes on. I'd vote for this in a heartbeat.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

What? Rules are for everyone?

I don't see why motorists would be mad for me selling fimo beads out of a metered parking space, or why business owners would be annoyed that I don't have to pay rent or fees to sell my wares at the metered space... in front of their store.

[ron_newman]

Enforcing the two-hour limit on such 'rental' would probably provide enough control.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

(http://imageshack.us)


(wow, I get to use that twice in one week)

FAIL. One reason for parking meters is to help ensure turnover of parking spaces. This is why meter-feeding is illegal. The two-hour (IIRC) time limit applies regardless of whether you've fed the meter or not.

Regardless of your opinion that OMG CARS ARE TEH EVIL, having parking available in the Square helps businesses make money. If there's no place to park, many people will simply opt to go elsewhere.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Not everyone who spends money in Davis Square or who has friends in Davis Square lives there. I live in an unhip and unfashionable suburb largely because I've found that living with roommates really doesn't work for me, and having my own place in Davis is simply not feasible financially.

[ron_newman]

Two hours at street meters, three hours in parking lots (where meters run to 8 pm).

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Darn handy when you're taking three huge boxes to the Goodwill.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

The stall could face the sidewalk...

Done and done.

[irinarasp.livejournal.com]

http://www.rebargroup.org/projects/parking/

I saw an photo exhibit about a version of this in Cleveland a couple years ago.
I like the idea of it used for art or demonstration purposes. Not so much for general use.

Then again, once you put in those quarters, the spot is yours*, so I suppose you can do with it as you darn well please.

*Maybe someone should check the actual regulations before taking my word for that.

Love,
Irka

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

There have been some fun projects around this idea:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/_who_sez_parkin.php
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/taking_back_the_2.php

[nungnung.livejournal.com]

I do love the idea of promoting sales of local goods, but I think the parking spot idea has far too many flaws. There are some basic public safety issues that would require monitoring, and I don't think the city would be equipped to handle it. For instance, I've participated in a number of outdoor markets, and countless times I've seen those giant 10 foot tents go flying into the air during a sudden gust of wind, despite the fact that everyone is "required" to weight their tents. Lax enforcement caused both property damage and bodily harm in these cases. I've also seen a tent weighted with cinderblocks lift-off enough to shimmy into traffic. Certainly not everyone would set up with a tent, but someone would, guaranteed. And if it's difficult to enforce rules in a closed market with more experienced vendor, what are the chances of being able to enforce rules with vendors scattered to any available space?

And from a different perspective, if I were a business owner I'd have a really difficult time NOT being upset about someone setting up directly in front of my shop, preventing people from seeing the merchandise I have displayed in my windows, or - even worse - congesting the sidewalks to the point that my customers couldn't make it inside.

On a positive note, I think it would be a FANTASTIC idea to have metered vendor stalls in a public area. I think this would be great, great, great. First come, first served, low prices for setting up a booth. An area like Davis would be perfect to explore this idea!

Re: Done and done.

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

Aw, dang, you beat me to it.

[ron_newman]

I saw a short movie about this project at one of the Boston Bicycle Film Festivals.

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I like the idea a lot but Davis Square is already a tight squeeze a good portion of the day and there isn't enough parking there as it is. Oh man, the times I've gone there in a car and couldn't find parking. I think it would take away needed space. Otherwise, having a few in Statue Park or the like would be great.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Come on.. really?

Lets say you work your ass off, 18 hours a day, put your entire savings on the line, go in debt up to your ears, and do all the necessary paperwork, to open your own business.

Then your business goes under, because no one can shop at your store, because no one can GET to your store, because there arent any parking spaces, because now any scmuck that files a $15 fee at town hall can open a stand in front of your shop and take up parking.

Also, no Davis square looks like a fucking Turkish bazaar and no one will go near it except the hippie douchebags who dont have money anyway.

Great idea, really.

I totally agree

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

The elderly, the handicapped, the injured, those travelling with children, those making deliveries/pickups should be excluded from the square.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

hmmm. i could get my metered spot, and then open a tiny parking garage of one space and sell parking time to less resourceful motorists at an extremely inflated rate and make a *killing*.