Parking Downtown Shifts from Streets, Lots to Deck

Data show gradual migration of parking to Kent Central Gateway from lots, on-street spaces

People who park downtown regularly are doing so more frequently in the new Kent Central Gateway transit center than in on-street spaces or parking lots. City officials have been carefully tracking occupancy of several parking lots and stretches of on-street parking spaces downtown since August 2012. Data tracked since the new parking deck opened, on April 30, show there's a gradual migration happening as more people start to park in the deck. "From an anecdotal point, it seems the perception I have from talking to people is there’s much more available parking," Kent City Engineer Jim Bowling said. "We hear less complaints about parking downtown." Bowling summarized the data for members of the Kent Parking Action Committee Wednesday. The …

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Parking Rates set for New Transit Center Downtown

PARTA to start charging in July for deck parking

Drivers now know what they'll be expected to pay once PARTA starts charging for its 365 spaces in the new Kent Central Gateway transit center downtown. PARTA released the rates, which are as follows: Drivers will have free access to the deck's five parking levels through May and June, as PARTA is awaiting delivery and then installation of the pay collection machines that will manage the deck. Bryan Smith, director of planning for PARTA, said they will have the ticket booths in place to start charging for parking on July 8. Rates will be posted for special events, and drivers who lose their ticket will have to pay the maximum rate. PARTA will offer office and monthly passes, and drivers should call the transit agency for rates and …

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G Myers

6:04 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

ya think? lol   more ›

Dog Poo Downtown Topic at Council

City may consider signs, receptacles for picking up dog waste

With downtown's surging redevelopment there's likely one topic that hasn't been atop many people's minds as part of the work: dog poo. But K9 waste has made it to Kent City Council, where it will get a full review. Councilman John Kuhar asked council to consider adding dog waste receptacles, similar to those found at some parks and dog parks, to encourage people to pick up after their animals while walking them downtown. "There's nothing worse," Kuhar said. "If there’s some way that we could notify the public better, in at least the downtown area, of what to do with their doggy poop... I’ve been in a couple cities where they’ve had actually doggy poop bags." The more than $100 million in ongoing redevelopment projects has drawn large …

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Lightnapper

12:59 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013

Just stating the obvious...? And it is verifiably true-- "Ben-j sure ploughed through that pile he just laid." Now, isn't that a crock? Somehow in the scheme of things advocating killing cats with a pellet gun is OK, and dumping on the homeless/un-housed/unfortunate/perhaps mentally ill or disabled is tolerable, but pointing out someone's self-righteousness and outright insensitivity toward less …   more ›

A Rainy Night in Kent

Blogger and photographer Brad Bolton shares photos of his favorite world: a city on a warm night after a rain.

Kent Artist to Create Memorial at Transit Center

George Danhires' proposal for a veterans memorial at the Kent Central Gateway will be built and installed at the site this year

A Kent artist whose work already has a prominent place downtown has been chosen to create a veterans memorial at PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center, which opened this month on Erie Street. Danhires, who created the Bicentennial Sculpture that stands on Franklin Avenue near the gazebo, was selected from three finalists to create a bronze sculpture on a site at the eastern end of the transit center property. His creation for the Bicentennial Sculpture, dedicated in September 2011, was developed via a lost-wax procedure that will be used again to create the veterans memorial. PARTA's selection committee chose Danhires' proposal in December. His contract stipulates the sculpture will be delivered in time for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. …

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Parking and Social Media in Kent — #DTownBuzzKill?

"In the spirit of early intervention I thought it might make sense to share some thoughts on the topic of paid parking in Kent," the city manager said in his most recent blog about parking downtown.

Parking. It's been a hot topic in Kent for awhile now.  Many are happy with some improvements, and the fact that the new garage is free this month, but many are griping about the cost to park on social media, according to Kent City Manager Dave Ruller in his most recent blog.  Patch asked its readers on Facebook about their thoughts on parking downtown. Here's what they had to say.  With the news that parking at the PARTA deck is free until April, Ruller said he's noticed "the social networks have started to light up with questions of paying for parking in downtown Kent. In particular we’re hearing some rumbling about the prospect of metered parking stations planned for later this year on certain downtown streets." So here's the answer: …

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PARTA Deck Opens for Parking Downtown

Drivers will be able to park free through May

With little public fanfare, the 365 public parking spaces in PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center opened downtown Tuesday. The bus transfer and commercial spaces in the deck have yet to open, but many Kent residents and business owners cheered the opening of the parking spaces virtually with "likes" and positive feedback spreading like wildfire on social media. Frank Hairston, director of marketing for PARTA, said drivers who pulled into the deck when it opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday flashed the thumbs up to transit authority administrators gathered for the early opening. "If you go online, everybody’s saying that ‘Hey I get a parking space downtown!'" Hairston said. "And they’re all happy right now. There’s still work going on the …

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Beautiful Day to Beautify Kent

Blogger Heather Malarcik recaps Saturday's clean-up day in Kent and has a special note for those who helped.

Photos: A Welcomed Spring in Downtown Kent

Blogger Brad Bolton welcomes spring by sharing gorgeous photos of blooms in downtown Kent.