Not to beat a dead horse, but the Ellis Square Garage is such a giant missed oppurtunity. Does the city have a marketing division? First off, if the only entrance is on Whitaker Street, shouldn’t it be the Whitaker Street Garage? Last time I was there three floors were empty and yet I had to pay $2 an hour to park there. Ummm, how about dropping the rate until people start using it, and then raise the rates. I know they have to pay for it, but if no one is using it… In Charleston, the city garage flanking King street is free for the first two hours, similar to the way we use Broughton. Could that not work at ‘Ellis Square’.. I have to say it is a wonderful garage and easy to use (unless there is a large event and you get a bottleneck at the cashier) I just wish a little more thought went into the marketing end of it.

Well I learned a lesson from the bandshell and from the practically-hidden entrance to the Ellis Square parking garage. If I can get access to the plans to the arts center early on, I’ll see if there are obvious red flags like there would have been if I had looked at those projects in the design stages.

Without such dedicated and sincere outreach, all we’ll wind up with is yet another incredibly expensive missed opportunity that frustrates and insults those whose partnership is required for its long-term success.

With such a cooperative spirit – and the recognition that specialized facilities of this sort demand specialized design that the City’s usual list of “go-to” planners and designers may not possess, we the people could wind up with a wonderful, useful venue for all manner of community building productions and events.

I personally am petrified we’ll instead be delivered another Forsyth Park Bandshell – aka The Giant White Middle Finger…

Comments?

Anyone?

Bueller?