Officials: New parking garage a necessary part of downtown's future Officials: New parking garage a necessary part of downtown's future (July 01, 2005)

By Jon Wiener

A $15 million public garage slated to be built at California and Bryant streets will have 14,000 square feet of retail space, a $96,000 art installation, and, if a few council members get their way, an array of solar panels.

Perhaps lost in all the discussion about its accoutrements is the real reason the city is building the garage: the 405 new parking spaces it will create downtown. Although the study which originally called for the garage is now 13 years old, and the city has done no further studies since then, officials insist its numbers are still meaningful in spite of the intervening economic downturn.

"Is there the parking demand today that there was in 2001? No," said council member Mike Kasperzak. "But is it going to lessen in the future? Probably not."

Council members say they don't have to do a study to know that parking spaces get scarce around lunchtime, instead relying on anecdotal evidence and personal experience.

"I can't find a parking spot anymore," said Laura Macias. "I always used to have great parking karma."

"People come, drive around, they don't want to walk a great distance," said Nick Galiotto.

Though the dot-bomb has wreaked havoc on commercial development and eased traffic congestion throughout the region, downtown Mountain View has developed more or less according to the city's precise plan for the area, according to assistant public works director Tim Ko.

"I think the basis of what we're doing, as part of this study, remains valid," Ko said. "I think longer term in the future, we may need to update the study."

Funded in large part by fees paid by businesses when they can't provide the amount of parking required by the city, the garage could ultimately free up several surface parking lots that the city would like to develop into other uses in the future.

"It's a necessary part of the infrastructure development for downtown," said Kasperzak. "Surface parking is inexpensive but it obviously uses up space."
Residents rally for Zanatto's

As for the business prospects at California and Bryant, council members on Tuesday night met with negotiators for two retailers who want to use the space on the first floor. Meanwhile, residents were taking to the streets to show their support for Zanatto's Family Market over Longs Drugs.

At a five-hour "vigil" on Monday, a handful of sign-toting residents and their children implored passing cars to "honk for Zanatto's," and talked about the importance of bringing a small family-owned grocery store to downtown.

"It's a large community, but everyone wants it to retain a small-town feel," said Mike Groethe, a resident of Old Mountain View since 1971.

"My last counting of Longs, I think we had plenty," said Groethe.

Inspired by a 24-hour vigil designed to save Castro School, the residents said the potential revenues to the city, released Tuesday night, should not factor into the council's decision on which to choose as a tenant.

Some council members favor a market, but the difference could factor into their ultimate decision.

"All the business terms, when you're talking about public funds, have to be a big portion of the decision," said city manager Kevin Duggan.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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