Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 30, 2005 22:27:23 GMT -6
Parking prices sound a sour note
From the Chicago Sun-Times
June 30, 2005
Fans of one of the lakefront's lesser-known gems -- the beach at 12th Street -- are complaining that the new Northerly Island music venue is effectively squeezing them out on show days.
Would-be sunbathers arriving at the beach this weekend were stunned to find the cost of parking had increased from the usual $13 to $25, the premium fee set for concerts, even though it was still hours before the first note was scheduled to be played.
In addition, metered parking spots along Solidarity Drive were converted to no-parking zones in the morning, long before the concert's 7 p.m. start time.
A Park District spokeswoman said the 600-slot lot closest to the music venue, which also serves Adler Planetarium visitors, sets aside 250 spots on show days for the public at the regular $13 fee. But when that allotment fills up -- no matter what time of day -- the rate jumps to $25. All spaces at the lot increase to $25 at 4 p.m., said spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner.
But on Sunday, by at least 2:30 p.m. the rate had been raised, signaling the cheaper spots were full.
"If you just want to go to the beach with your family, then you're out a lot of money,'' said Dan Sullivan, an actor from Little Village who frequently visits the beach with his wife and three children. On Wednesday the family drove because they brought a grill, two tents for shade as well as coolers with food. "If you are poor, you can't go to the beach.''
Erma Tranter, president of the watchdog group Friends of the Parks, said the beach is popular with residents of the Pilsen neighborhood. "People who want to go to the beach during the day shouldn't have to pay the event rate,'' she said.
Some Adler visitors were also furious, double-parking in front of the planetarium, running inside and fuming at ticket-takers before driving off in a huff.
The 155 metered-spots -- which sit on Solidarity between the Field Museum and the planetarium -- are now off-limits on concert days. On Sunday, the meters were bagged with "No Parking'' signs at 9 a.m., 10 hours before the concert's scheduled start, a parking attendant said.
Meters are bagged
Maxey-Faulkner said the meters are bagged "to promote the flow of traffic'' generated by the 7,500-seat venue. Bagging is done in the morning to avoid having to tow cars later in the day, she said. But Sullivan suggested posting signs on the meters allowing parking until 4 p.m. on concert days, restrictions now in place on other city streets.
Antonia Boregman, a chef who works catered events at Adler, said she often could find a metered space for an evening event, or at least park for $13 at the Adler lot. But when she showed up Friday night, she had to park at a Soldier Field lot, where rates had been raised from $13 to $18.
Parking fees at Soldier Field are hiked on concert days at 4 p.m. when the museums are preparing to close, Maxey-Faulkner said.
Pat Kremer, a spokeswoman for the Field Museum, said "All events that happen on the [museum] campus negatively impact the museums because they increase the parking rate several hours before the event begins.'' Summer, when most of the concerts are scheduled to take place, is "the height of our tourist season,'' Kremer said.
Charter One Pavilion is operated by Clear Channel Entertainment but the Chicago Park District keeps revenue generated by the lots -- estimated to be $800,000 this year. Maxey-Faulker noted that the weekend was the opening of the venue and that adjustments could be made.
Link here: www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-park30.html
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It was rough prior to this monster squatting on what once was a runway, but now...it's impossible. It's a direct attack on Adler visitors unwilling or unable to pay $25.00 (!), and also impacts on we, who are Telescope Operators and other volunteers. I guess tunes and drunken fans are desired over sober individuals interested in science and knowledge.
Open up the street meters, they'll fill up soon enough, give the people of Chicago a sporting chance...and don't worry, the lot will still have plenty of customers.
