PARKING CHARRETTE CASE STUDY OVERVIEW

As a printing company focused on the changes in the parking and transit industry, Southland Printing Company, Inc. has an increased awareness of the necessity for appropriate parking accommodations to fit the needs of growth opportunity throughout Shreveport, LA.

The potential for other similar-sized cities to participate in developing solutions has surfaced in recent years. Southland would like to be a conduit to bring this and other topics forward whenever parking or transit communities are together for think-tank opportunities.

The parking needs for residential development are different than parking for office space and this is a very key point. There is a need to build more parking structures in the downtown historic Texas Street district in Shreveport, LA. It will be important to accommodate the correct number of spaces in the right places to grow

opportunities for developers to invest and revitalize the area.

PROBLEM

In June 2014 an article appeared in the Shreveport Times, “To Park or Not to Park…

It’s not a question downtown.” The Shreveport, LA Downtown Development Authority expressed the following concern: “Without the correct number of spaces in the right places, downtown residential is going to remain an elusive dream, developers will continue to walk away and downtown’s most important historic building could remain just as they are today – vacant.” Three historic buildings in the 600 block of Texas Street are being given new life as part of a multi-million residential project. The Sears building is the largest of the three buildings will house 57 apartments and a penthouse, and retail spaces. A New Orleans style music club is looking at opening in late 2015. The building has been vacant for at least 25 years. It is 80,000 square feet and includes six floors and a basement. The bottom

two floors will be used for retail and the top floors for market rate apartments. Adjacent to the Sears building is a 2-story building which was a dry goods store built in 1900 by Herman Zodiag. Adjacent to the Zodiag building is a 3-story building, this was Furman’s and later a Franklin’s in the 1950’s. In addition, Southern University located next door plans to convert the historic Allen Building in the same block into a nursing school which will add 300 students.

The well-known and highly used venues of ArtSpace and the Robinson Film Center are also located in the same region. Currently the Center has a lot with 10 spaces for patrons. The Center hosts the Louisiana Film Prize each year which brings filmmakers from all over the U.S. The need for parking is great during the events that ArtSpace and the Robinson Film Center host.

SOLUTION

Charrette (pronounced [shuh-ret]) - The word charrette may refer to any collaborative session in which a group of designers drafts a solution to a design problem.

An interactive session was developed by Ann Porterfield, Sales Account Manager at Southland Printing Company, Inc. and Brandy Stanley, Parking Services Manager at City of Las Vegas. The two worked together to develop the session for the Southwest Parking and Transportation Association conference. The session gave the overview and problem to attendees, with the opportunity for them to critically review and ascertain a feasible solution.

A parking garage would provide for Sears residential and retail, Southern University students, ArtSpace and Robinson Film Center’s weekday events and night time events. The covered parking would be private partnership between Sears and Southern, not a project

guaranteed by the city. The greatest need overall is for secure residential parking that is available 24 hours a day.

RESULTS

Six teams reviewed and identified methods to address the problem:

1. Identify funding, public and private. Conduct a parking/traffic study, where additional parking can be located; determine land availability. Separate facilities might allow for a phased approach.

Contributors: Michael Schmitt - Dick & Fritsche Design Group, Lars Erickson - McCarthy Building Companies

2. Conduct an occupancy study to evaluate the need; replace Franklin & Zodiag buildings with automated mechanical garage (city finance or private); move daily employee parkers from area surface lots to casino garages and shuttle to downtown; add car share and bike share; add valet for events at theatre.

Contributors: Toni Covington – ABM, Phoenix; Deb Graham - ASU, Glendale; Johnny Waldo - IPS, Bentonville, AR

3. Demolish Franklin & Zodiag buildings, add residential parking with security, lighting, and cameras; valet, shuttle from riverfront; add garage behind Robinson Film Center to include parkers for Jury Duty at courthouse.

Contributors: Brandy Stanley - City of Las Vegas; Kristian Gutierrez - Passport Parking

4. Add garage behind Sears building and Southern University if the property is available. Develop a pedestrian mall in the block on Texas across from the Courthouse. Add a garage behind Robinson Film Center.

Contributors: Kurt Matthews - City of Boulder; Dan Ferson - SWARCO; Darby Garcia - Northern Arizona University; Justin Montgomery - Douglas Parking

5. Add garage behind Sears building; add parking on McNeil if available; turn part of block with Tipitina’s into a pedestrian mall.

Contributors: David Cooker - IPS Group; Dennis Downer - Douglas Parking; Leslie Griffin - City of Reno

6. Add a garage behind the Sears Building; add an automated garage for Sears residents where Franklin and Zodiag building are currently standing; event parking valet - shuttle on Texas for events at Robinson; purchase surface lots; Review TIF eminent domain? Parking Impact fees? Does DDA have bonding ability? Shared parking day/night.

Contributors: Laura Liertz and Mike Simons - T2; Gabe Mendez - ASU

THE BOTTOM LINE

Downtown Shreveport, LA is on the cusp of an incredible resurgence. It just needs a little support and a little additional parking in the right places to help it on its way.

Southland Printing Company, Inc. is a family-owned business, which began operations in 1960 in Shreveport, LA. Southland provides world-class printing technology for the parking and transit industries.

Ann Porterfield is a Sales Account Manager and has been with Southland for more than 20 years. Ann manages several national accounts; focuses on new business development; builds and maintains strong, long-lasting customer relationships; and ensures the timely and successful delivery of Southland Printing solutions (services and products) according to customer needs and objectives.

www.southlandprinting.com

Brandy Stanley serves as the parking services manager for the city of Las Vegas. In this role, she oversees all aspects of the city’s parking system including the operation of parking meters, enforcement, collections, off-street facility management and contract negotiations. She is also responsible for technology evaluation and implementation, supporting new development with parking expertise, facilitating parking for special events, recommending policy and setting the direction and mission for how the parking system can best support the city’s economic development goals. Stanley has been with the city of Las Vegas since June 2011, and has gained extensive experience in the parking industry across the country during her 20-year career.

www.lasvegasnevada.gov

January 2015

The charrette design was an opportunity to generate ideas from a variety of points of view. It was very exciting to see how this concept translated into solving a parking problem.

Brandy Stanley, MBA Parking Services Manager - City of Las Vegas