Growing Pains

Fargo folks are getting mixed messages regarding downtown growth. In some regards, we are on the right path. In others, we are not so sure.

The dialogue about how to re-create a downtown that is vibrant and at the same eco-friendly should be notched up a few steps. We need to take a broader look at policies that perhaps conflict with broader goals, or with each other.

For example, on the one hand, we encourage a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly downtown. But that was decided after the downtown street renovations were essentially completed. While it is good to have people walk their bicycles on sidewalks along Broadway, it is not good to force bikes into traffic with vehicles. People on bikes are no match for cars and pickups and SUVs. They should not be in the same traffic lanes.

So there is a dilemma, of sorts. But there is also room for creative problem-solving. We’d like to see some accelerated discussions which take broader looks at the issues of mass transit, pedestrian and bicycle integration and safety, and we’d like to see some sense of urgency because the energy cost escalation crisis simply demands it.

Growing and developing downtown is also a balancing act of sorts. One of the results of investment is a further reduction in available parking, hence another dilemma.

Downtown Fargo has lost at least one parking lot to an exciting new development project. The concept of urban fill has found a place in the eyes of at least one visionary business leader/developer.

We are also seeing a number of other buildings undergoing renovation and rebirths one way and another.

The hoped-for result is for a more vibrant downtown, for more people, for more customers, more life, more food, fun and entertainment.

We’ve come a long way. Goodness knows, our downtown is a whole ‘nother place these days compared to five and especially ten years ago.

But we have not addressed the problems of parking. Quite the contrary, we exacerbate the situation with a painfully costly parking ticket program that contradicts to some extent our desire for a more lively and vibrant downtown.

The public was reassured that there would be some sort of grace period accompanying the launch of the dramatically higher parking ticket fee structure. It didn’t happen. We do not see the “friendly warning” we were told would introduce downtown visitors to the new parking rules and penalties.

A stark reality is this: customers can go to West Acres and most any shopping destination in the region and not have to worry about $15 parking fees for being there longer than 90 minutes. Add another downtown parking ticket every 90 minutes until 5 o’clock and you could conceivably see some people getting tickets amounting to more than their cars are worth.

Okay, we are stretching it a bit. But it does concern us that we do not have more parking on the horizon and we are harshly penalizing those who participate in a reinvigorated downtown with a costly and aggressive parking ticket scheme that is perhaps nothing more than a cash cow for city coffers -on the backs of those who come now that Downtown is worth visiting.

It needs discussion and some reinvention. As does our mass transit system.

On a positive note, we celebrate City Commissioner Mike Williams and his eco-friendly compatriots for their “Cruising Green” event held in conjunction with First Thursday Cruising Broadway. There will be bikes, scooters, GEM cars, a hybrid classic car, and even free rides on the MAT bus up and down Broadway.

Now, that is creative thinking. It brings together like-minded problem-solvers who dream of cleaner, greener futures. They assemble at Island Park Cycles at 5:45 today in the west parking lot.

Just don’t overstay your welcome in a downtown parking space, or you will get a not-so-friendly notice that you owe $15 or more to the City. And don’t get hit by a car if you risk riding your bike in the middle of traffic in a busy downtown.