Hopefully more and more people will join the growing movement to have Brattleboro either step up or tear down the parking garage. A huge number of people no longer park there because The Town of Brattleboro has abdicated its basic duty to taxpayers and citizens to upkeep the garage. Let’s go through some basic undisputed facts about the current state of the garage:
Trash and stains punctuate the parking garage. Parking Enforcement told me there used to be a full time caretaker of the garage and now that person was cut to only 4 hours. Everyone feels this is unacceptable; there needs to be a full-time caretaker.
The last time the street sweeper went through the parking garage, Dwight Eisenhower was President.
The build-up of dust, dirt, and motor oil runoff from parked cars is enough to dissolve the rubber on your shoes.
When it is raining outside, it pours inside the parking garage. The seals in the seams between levels have failed which allows all the rain water to pour through beneath the levels. And it’s not nice and clean rain water; it is rain water mixed with all the dirty motor vehicle buildup contamination from above.
The garage has become a sanitation and health-hazard. People urinate in the corners and since the garage is never cleaned it adds to the bubonic cocktail of neglect that has become our town parking garage. This town needs to immediately allocate greater police officer resources downtown, a full time parking garage caretaker, and if the town will not take responsibility for basic upkeep of the garage, then please tear it down.
Parking Garage
It certainly generates enough revenue to finance a caretaker. Giving that person enforcement powers would make it even more affordable to the town..
We NEED the parking garage, but it needs to be clean.
False economy is NO economy!
BTW, I am curious to know where the “huge number of people” who no longer park there are parking.
I’d also like to know what a “bubonic cocktail” is.
Urination
Urination in the garage is not a cleanliness problem, it’s a homelessness problem.
It is NOT a solution to homelessness to allow the homeless to hang out by the garage.
Generating revenue
Pretty sure taxpayers are still paying this off. Debt service.
It does bring in some revenue, from both parking and first floor rental. It also costs a fair amount to operate due to repairs and upgrades. It’s had leaks, stairs have rusted out, lighting has been upgraded, and it requires plowing and cleaning.
I’d add a third option in addition to fix or tear down – sell it as is!
Brattleboro parking
I don’t think this is much of an idea if Brattleboro is to remain a thriving, economic center. The town needs parking.
which one?
Which option is the bad one? Sell, fix, or tear down?
Selling it would mean a private owner would operate it. Fixing it would make it better. I’m guessing the tear it down option is the one that would prevent Brattleboro from being a thriving economic center.