Artesia Council Studies Pioneer Boulevard Parking Proposals

Off-street structure will be built at 186th and Corby.

By Jerry Bernstein

The Artesia City Council took under study three proposals for off-street parking on Corby Avenue off 186th Street to serve the downtown area along Pioneer Avenue. The proposals include an automated multi-story parking structure with a computerized valet parking system that doesn’t need human assistance, a standard multi-story structure, and a surface parking lot.
As outlined by the company Dasher/Lawless U-Parkit, the driver would pull his/her car into an “Entry” compartment in the computerized parking structure similar to an automatic carwash, turn off the engine and set the emergency brake. The driver then takes the time to gather his/her belongings, children etc. and exits the compartment. The driver than activates the storage process by taking a coded parking ticket at the parking kiosk as he/she exits the compartment.
Upon activation of the storage system, sensors measure the vehicle for compatibility with the design of the system. The door of the Entry compartment is closed and the vehicle is mechanically lifted from the ENTRY compartment to a location in the storage vault via a conveyor transport device. The storage location is recorded in the system for retrieval to the bearer of the coded parking ticket.
To retrieve the vehicle, the driver returns to customer lobby and swipes the coded parking ticket at the pay station and pays the required fee. This activates the mechanical retrieval of the stored vehicle; the computer determines the vehicle location from data records for the user of that parking system.
Advantages of this parking system include it’s a compact system; the structure takes up only two-thirds of lot, expandable for future parking demand. no mechanical ventilation due to transporting vehicles without engine running, vehicle emissions ventilation system is not required, reduced lighting with interior lighting not required, safety and emergency lights only, enhanced convenience. Comparable to valet parking, there is no need to search for a parking stall.
Disadvantages are there is no U-Parkit System currently in existence in California, no information presented about event of mechanical failure, what solutions are to assist patrons whose vehicles are stuck in storage areas, lack of evidence about public acceptance, advantages/ benefits to city of for pioneering such a system in Artesia,
If the company goes bankrupt how will city find replacement parts or another company to assume maintenance and operation of facility?
Second Proposal
A second proposal is by Edge Development Company, who is managing construction t for the city’s new Public Works Yard. The firm proposed a more conventional parking structure.
Under its proposal the company would be responsible for the preparation of design plans, building the parking structure and then handing over the building to the City as a “turn key” package. Deputy City Manager Justine Menzel said this concept is extremely beneficial to a city that has no available staff personnel capable of administering and handling such a capital improvement project.
She said cost estimates for a permanent parking structure could range from $3.5 million to $5 million depending on the type of structure built. Menzel said even if
it is a pay parking facility, it can take 25 years or more to recuperate the investment
cost. Funding sources for the project will be from the proceeds of the 2007 bonds program.
The Council also looked at the possibility of constructing a surface parking lot. The costs, including demolition of the existing buildings on the land, installation of a 93-spaced surface paved parking lot, complete with lighting and landscaping is estimated at $250,000. Unlike the proposed multi-story parking structure, the surface lot could be constructed in two months and quickly recover the initial investment costs within two years.
In her report Menzel pointed out that once the paved parking lot is operating, City staff could then evaluate and report back to the Council and Parking Authority whether a parking structure is needed. Such an evaluation is important to prevent the City from investing $3.5 to $5 million dollars in construction costs for a parking structure that might not be effectively utilized or under-utilized after completion of the parking lot.



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