9/12/2010

the politics of parking

A funny thing happened on the way to church. Grand Center, Inc didn't let me park on the church's parking lot.

It's very weird. I don't know why it's so difficult for organizations to work together. This is one of the things I'm still trying to learn about urban life in general and St. Louis in particular; why is it that people and groups who are basically all on the same team have such difficulty arriving at mutually beneficial arrangements? GCI has been very good at charging visitors to Midtown St. Louis for the privilege of using parking spaces - including those owned by the church. But for some unexplained reason, GCI seems to think they own all the proceeds. Apparently, they broke off negotiations so suddenly that they didn't even allow the church to build a separate street entrance into that part of the parking lot before literally denying little old church ladies the ability to park next to the entrance. And of course, there's no notice or anything. The thankless task of telling people they can't enter the parking lot was left to the subcontracted parking lot attendants to explain on Sunday morning.

What's the dealio Mr. Schoemehl? We're even doing GCI the favor of housing the Grand Center Arts Academy charter school for a year until their tax-credit financed building rehab is completed. You owe us man. I expect more from my fellow Skinker-Debaliviere peep!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately its because if they let people park in their spaces for different events, then that limits the number of spaces for people who are wanting to visit their business. Instead they need to work together to make the experience as pleasing to the consumer

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