Comments on: Friends of Piedmont Park responds to Botanical Garden — in legalese

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:07:14 +0000

This story will now need an update.

By: David Norris

David Norris — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:36:35 +0000

I believe Mr. Abramson is confusing the First Amendment right to free speech with the issue of filing friviolous lawsuits. Mr Abramson and Friends of Piedmont Park (FOPPs) had 2 years to provide their comments and input (which they did vigorously and repeatedly.) Their opposiotion was heard, but the majority of neighborhood groups and city officials came to a different conclusion. The lawsuit (filed by FOPPS) was without merit and filed simply to delay the project and cost the ABG additional money. That is why two of the other plaintiffs dropped out of the lawsuit! Delay is the standard operationg procedure of FOPPâ€™s. They successfully delayed the installation of the wonderful walking paths in Piedmont Park for over two years. The real grass roots efforts and support, is that of the PPC and ABG. FOPPS is a loud but very small group of disgruntled individuals who oppose everything the PPC or ABG try to do. Thank goodness the PPC and ABG can move forward with the much needed deck and the great 50 acre expansion of the Park.

By: Dale

Dale — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:34:16 +0000

Leigh – thanks for the link, I will check it out.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:29:14 +0000

Dale, the Friends of the Park group proposed some alternatives, many of which ended up beig supported by other groups. Interestingly, they supported more parking for those who wanted to drive, but they wanted locations at the edge of Piedmont Park, and thought the Botanical Garden’s idea of putting the parking deck in the interior of the park (with long roads bisecting the park to get to it) was asinine. They also supprted other, more sensible ideas. When I first heard about the parking deck issue, my initial inclination was to support the deck because I sometimes couldn’t find a parking space. But the more I looked into it, the more I saw that the Friends of the Park ideas made sense and I supported them. You can gop to their web site to see what some of their other ideas are (point 2): http://www.friendsofpiedmontpark.org/Pages/CurrentPosition.html

By: Dale

Dale — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:07:35 +0000

I’m not complaining, just explaining. Your airport analogy is incorrect. The correct analogy would be that I moved to Midtown and then began an nitiative to make parking on the street illegal. I have not complained about parking on the street, only pointed out one of the benfits of parking.

Those events you mention are about 10 days a year. So your logic is that, because the deck would be overwhelmed on those days, it would not be worth it for the other 355 days.

Call a tow truck ? now I am laughing….. yeah, they just come running….. you have obviously never called a tow truck on a Sunday morning in Midtown. I took me four hours one day to get a car towed out of a space to which I hold the deed, much less some moron who squeezed into a space and is blocking a foot or so of a driveway.

If the BGl runs off the “urban campers” in those woods, I would CHEER the privatization of Storza Woods. I won’t go into PP woods because of what I saw the first two times.

I am curious, have alternative proposals for park acess and traffic managemnt been presented by FoPP or any other organization? If so, I have not seen them presented in CL or any other publication. Are there other proposals or just a bunch of opposition? I am genuinely itnerested, not being a smartass.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:32:43 +0000

After removal of the surface lot, the deck will only add a net 200 spaces to parking at the part. Those will be PAID- – supposedly $1.75 an hour, but since they were going to be FREE when the deck was first proposed, who knows how much by the time it is actually in operation? Regardless, people aren’t going to pay to park until all viable free parking – - like that on your street – - is gone.

As for large events (Dogwood Festival, etc.), they attract 100,000+ people on a normal day. 100,000 vs. 200 spaces. Works out to 500 people per car. That’s some amazing carpoolin’. Oh – - – and the Garden has the right to close the deck to the public, and for their members use, whenever they want. Say for special events. Say, like during Dogwood?

Of course, if they abuse that privilage, you need only challenge them in court to make them comply with, at least, the Open Records Act . . . . . assuming you want to commit personal financial suicide.

Anyway, if you live in midtown, looks like people are still going to be parking on your street. That’s the same as people that move near the airport, and then complain about noise. Somebody blocks your driveway? That’s illegal – - call a tow truck. And start laughing.

Yes, the park needs better access. Cutting a road through the park (and across the beltline, at grade), building a 3 acre private, six-story concrete parking deck, privatizing 12 more acres of city land (Storza Woods) isn’t an answer. It’s a crime.

By: Lizanne

Lizanne — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:46:31 +0000

Peter and Dale are right on the money!

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:40:13 +0000

Yes, by all means we should stop that frivolous deck. That way all of us in Midtown can keep the park for oursleves and force the people who drive there to clog the streets and block driveway in front of my home due to the lack of parking. Whatever we do, make sure we don’t make it easier for other members of the public to use our public park. BRILLIANT!!!!

By: Anna L

Anna L — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:30:08 +0000

It is simple…it is public land…we are the public and last time I checked
there is a thing called freedom of speech…you know…an amendment
to the Constitution in this country. I hardly think that frivlous.

Frivilous is the ABG use of outdoor watering while we can’t water our gardens.
Frivilous spending of that eyesore of a parking deck that is purposed.
Frivilous act of cutting untold trees for said parking deck.

I applaud the Abramsons for their valiant fight and making a stand and making people aware of this issue.

By: Johnathon A

Johnathon A — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:51:53 +0000

Amen Peter! Afraid the FOPPS really lost this one.