Yesterday morning (Saturday) I went to our new Starbucks for my morning coffee at about 10:30am. Suprisingly, it was pretty dead, maybe 4 other customers. However, there was not one parking spot. I circled the building and eventually parked behind the building which I think may have been the actual drive. When you pull in off Hillsborough, it appears they make you drive behind the building and around to get to the parking lot. By the time the employees park, there is very little room left for patrons. Imagine what it will be like when the morning rush hour hits. Traffic will spill out onto Hillsborough and create a traffic nightmare. Was the city and ARC so short sighted worrying about what the building would look like that they payed no attention to the parking details?
Similarly, Martha's Place on Nebraska has a similar problem. On Saturday's and Sunday's, parking floods the entire corner forcing patrons to park across Nebraska and cross the 4 lanes by foot. I had warned code before they opened that the parking situation was not sufficient. It may be a matter of time before someone is hurt trying to cross Nebraska. The main parking lot is the dirt lot behind the building.
According to the city code, new businesses must have X number of spots and must be a hard surface to accomodate handicapped accessiblity. Martha's does not comply with either and Starbuck can't possibly comply with the number portion. How are these businesses allowed to get their licenses without passing proper zoning/code?
My concern is that if we are not careful, we will end up like South Tampa with parking and traffic flooding into the residential areas, people parking in the streets, etc.
Is no one in the city responsible for proper planning? Is it left to us to patrol this?
I don't know the answers to the questions about Martha's and Starbucks. Martha's could probably organize their parking better. They have that big lot. Parking is a big issue and one of the things we have to get resolved for our business district to really take off. Parking is an issue at the Osborne/Florida shops also and many others place. The music production studios and clothing store on Nebraska north of Sligh has the same issue. Last night they had cars parked on the sidewalks of the businesses next door. Some places have large parking lots, that are very empty that they do not share.
the city of Tampa zoning has all the answers for parking - ARC would have no hand in that decision. For retail, the zoning requires 4 spots per thousand sq ft. If I rmember correctly the Starbucks building is 1,800 sq ft and not all of that is sales floor and it is zoned as a drive through resturant so there would be even less parking required - it boils down to the parking that is there probably falls within the requirements. No business will go out of their way to provide additional parking as it is not free.
ReplyDeleteA way to resolve our paking issues wold be to have a communal lot like on south Howard by Joe Redners gym- I heard the city leases the lot from Joe to provide area parking but it won't really work in SH as currently as we have no focus of businesses in one area that could benefit.
DOT required the parking to be accessed by going around the building so there would be no traffic backup issues into Hills. Ave. when people are leaving the spaces, waiting for peds to cross the lot, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think it's too early to conclude that Starbucks has a parking problem. It's only been open a couple of days so staffing and the number of customers is quite likely significantly higher than it will be once it reaches an equilibrium. I didn't see a place that was convenient to park a bicycle though, a small rack or post would be most welcome. Biking will be my preferred method of going to Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteon fri, cars were parked all over the sidestreets. the neighbors cd be in for some action. the parking lot is prob too small for peak times. oh well, sh cd use some more life.
ReplyDeleteha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ReplyDeletedid i mention ha ha ha ha
isnt starbucks great?
anon #5...WTF? i suppose an Amscott would have been better? nothing like 24 hour check cashing...or perhaps a used car lot...better yet a used TIRE shop..hahahahaha. shut your hole. if you don't want to go to starbucks then don't. i'm sure there are a lot of people who don't want to shop or patronize the places that you support...that's called choice. suck it.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Bike Racks, the developer agreed to pay for them but we're not ready for the opening I heard they will go in next week. That was nice of the develper.
ReplyDeleteGood news about the bike racks. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDelete