Talk of The Villages Florida - Downtown parking garage to begin construction in january

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What a waste of money. Not sure which is worse: this parking garage or the sidewalk along hwy 44 that nobody will ever use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobGraves (Post 2278878)

All the info. https://wildwooddowntown.com/wp-cont...ent_Report.pdf

It is a beautiful plan, but no economical analysis of the financial/commercial viability.

Consultants like that interview the decision makers and feedback what they hear rather than what makes economic sense.

The first seven years calls for redevelopment of the shopping center, which today has plenty of unused parking. And building a parking garage?

Plus a cart path connecting to the Villages...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2278863)

Well they did. $6.6 million for 126 spots, $52,000 per parking spot.

Most of which likely will be used by city hall employees, not customer's. But probably enough left over for Miz Kathi's Cotillion Southern Café...

Hopefully they will put a time limit of 2-3hrs to prevent abuse by city employees

Quote:

Originally Posted by photo1902 (Post 2278669)

And just when I thought people ran out of things to complain about

I thought the same thing. What difference does it make to the OP? I think it's s smart plan, give the construction people a place to park.

Entry from the side and rear will eliminate this hazard. My wish, as a retired Architect and resident, would be that the design replicate the beautiful brickwork they demolished!

Downtown Parking Garage in Wildwood

In the pictures of the renovated Wildwood, I still see 301 running right through it. I thought 301 was going to be rerouted so it wouldn’t go right through the center of the new Wildwood.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael 61 (Post 2278628)

So this is what we are getting for our tax money for those of us that pay Wildwood City taxes.

More to come after the parking garage, only the begainning. Wildwood will be the new Disney? :a040:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Egandi (Post 2278963)

In the pictures of the renovated Wildwood, I still see 301 running right through it. I thought 301 was going to be rerouted so it wouldn’t go right through the center of the new Wildwood.

You know what happen when bypass done. 99.0% bypass. This happen in my hometown. Was major route north till interstate highway system re-routed traffic. When from thriving community with 4 gas stations, 3 grocery stores, movie theater, car dealership, to two gas station and one grocery store. Otherwise, dying ghost town if wasn’t for farming community.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Egandi (Post 2278963)

In the pictures of the renovated Wildwood, I still see 301 running right through it. I thought 301 was going to be rerouted so it wouldn’t go right through the center of the new Wildwood.

301 is being rerouted to bypass Coleman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 10 GI (Post 2278825)

Where are you proposing these surface parking lots be located along 301? There is no space next to these businesses that isn't already a parking area. Definitely no way to park in front of them either.

I do see some problems with ingress and egress from the proposed parking garage, 301 can get pretty heavy with traffic.

Any idea what/which businesses will benefit from this parking garage?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2279015)

Any idea what/which businesses will benefit from this parking garage?

It certainly will NOT benefit any villages businesses.
Even though most Wildwood tax revenue comes from the villages.

If they are trying to attract shoppers from the villages, I think it's a safe bet that nearly all would never walk very far from their car to get to a store. So only businesses within 1 block maximum.
If that's 25 small stores, $12mm cost divided by 25 = $480,000 per store. Such a marvelous use of taxes.

Instead of a parking ramp.... Buy various properties along 301. Demolish and put in a paved parking lot for 30 cars. Cost estimated $300k each.
For $12mm they can make 40 of those. Or 1,200 parking spots. Scattered where businesses need them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2278616)

Where else would they start a downtown "renovation" project by building a parking garage?

DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE TO BEGIN
CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY

Construction of Wildwood's new parking garage at the corner of US 301/Main St. and Oxford St. is scheduled to begin in early January. The surface lot on
that site will close as soon as Jan. 2, 2024.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Jan. 8 at 11:00 a.m. and is open to the public. All are invited. The multistory structure will house approximately 125 vehicle spaces, providing much-needed parking for existing and future downtown businesses.

Current construction schedules estimate a Fall 2024 opening, subject to change based on supply chain, weather,
and other potential delays.
The first significant construction project of the city's downtown master plan, adopted in November 2021, the parking garage is one component of a public- private partnership between the City of Wildwood and G3 Development.

That partnership also includes construction of approximately 8,000 square feet of new, leasable commercial space expected to be filled by one or more dining and entertainment businesses. The commercial building, which will be built, owned, and operated by G3 Development, is expected to begin construction in mid-2024 and open in early 2025.

The downtown master planning process involved participation and input from both residents and local businesses through surveys, interviews, a workshop, virtual open house, and presentations. During that process, participants were asked to identify and prioritize community needs and wants. Downtown redevelopment and revitalization quickly emerged as the top issue community members wanted the city to address. "Nothing happens quickly in government" said City Manager Jason McHugh. "There are checks and balances built into every step of the process to ensure fair and judicial use of taxpayer resources, which is vital but takes time." "Then the pandemic threw a big wrench into the mix," he added. "But we are now firmly on our way to implementing the vision laid out by our community, and Wildwood's future is brighter than it has ever been."

It's called infrastructure. Should always come first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by huge-pigeons (Post 2278883)

What a waste of money. Not sure which is worse: this parking garage or the sidewalk along hwy 44 that nobody will ever use.

The sidewalk along 44 was paid for with State money, not County money...

… and do you really think you will park for free???
Parking garages are costly to maintain.

…been in the parking industry for over 30 years. I know 😉

Wasted Resources

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2279069)

The sidewalk along 44 was paid for with State money, not County money...

We saw that sidewalk. Yes, the parking garage is just like it, a waste of resources. Thankfully we don’t pay Wildwood taxes. $52,380.95 per parking space seems a little pricey to me. You could build homes for the poor and destitute for less?