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Downtown Hospital Parking: Surface Lots, Garage(s)... Oh the Cars!

Scroll-down page for a running timeline of Downtown Utica Parking Garage Headlines & Opinions" Next look at Utica's Current Municipal Parking Facilities.

Get to know: BetterUticaDowntown

With Utica's #thewynnhospital under construction, BetterUticaDowntown has plan for a Better Downtown Hospital Neighborhood, that starts with adopting a different parking stragtegy!

We're tracking downtown parking headlines, parking garages, surfaces lots, and the downtown hospital concept. Lots of people work in our Hospitals and most ALL drive to work. MVHS projected their Downtown Hospital Requires 3,000+ Parking Spaces! Why seek this destructive and very expensive move, when today the hospital owns 64-acres at their St. Luke's Campus in Utica's current Oneida County Medical District?

Meanwhile a huge missing and confusing piece remains, "Where will the newly expanded AUD patrons park? And now we see plans for the Nexus Center and U District! Plus the following concept suggests the AUD requires 3,000 spaces: Utica AUD & Apartment Concept. Utica's sports facility is growing, but where are the patrons going to park? Lots of plans for more events, more vistors, more jobs and downtown "economic development inducements", but where is everyone going to park?

During U District talks, we saw no parking plan. During Nexus Center discussions, we saw no parking plan. So where do all the new Utica AUD attraction seekers park?

We did see a parking plan as part of a proposed Apartment Complex On Whitesboro Street. We heard it came from Utica City Hall, a sports and apartment complex, but would it fit with everything else we here about?

Apartment Developer: Purcell Construction / MSP Realty LLC / Riedman Development

Consider - An illustrated Site Plan showing all the Parking Spaces Around #MVHS Downtown / The Wynn Hospital, excluding on-street parking.

2022

August 11, 2022 - Parking wars continue, in City of Utica vs. Oneida County in Downtown Utica.

County Executive Picente calling on Mayor Palmieri for Collaboration, this after Palmieri's press conference linked below...

June 16, 2022 - Price tag for Wynn Hospital parking garage in Utica rises by $2 million

March 31, 2022 - Legal battle over Utica hospital parking garage plan ends with eminent domain ruling

March 11, 2022 - Oneida County sets timeline for Wynn Hospital parking garage in downtown Utica

February 11, 2022 - Price tag goes up on Wynn Hospital parking garage.

February 10, 2022 - Wynn Hospital parking garage to cost Oneida County an extra $10 million

February 10, 2022 - What MVHS budgeted at $27 million, has changed drastically, read Utica Wynn Hospital Parking Garage Could Cost $10M More.

January 11, 2022 - Downtown Utica hospital opponents lose court case over parking garage eminent domain

January 11, 2022 - utica wynn hospital parking garage, court oks use of eminent domain.

2021

June 24, 2021 - Downtown parking: Utica, Oneida County spat over hospital garage only part of the problem.

June 15, 2021 - Oneida County executive clashes with city of Utica over paying for hospital parking garage.

June 14, 2021 - By way of WIBX, Palmieri Defends Utica Parking Garage Decision: No Local Government Entity Has Done More Than Utica.

July 22, 2021 - Mayor announces proposal to purchase Kennedy Parking Garage in Utica. Oddly, one sees: "Jul 22, 2021 Updated Jan 12, 2022", 7 months later the story is "edited", why, how?

City Hall annouces a deal that would see a new hotel built upon the Kennedy Parking Garage opposite The Wynn Hospital...

This is 57 years after last promise to build a Hilton Hotel in the same place, as part of Utica's Urban Renewal Plan No. 1. This new plan calls for adding two additional levels to the parking garage, plus the hotel!

July 13, 2021 - Today's UticaOD story titled, How deal to fund Utica NY downtown hospital parking garage broke down.

July 1, 2021 - Oneida County looks at “Other possible projects include a downtown revitalization project to help county municipalities…” This report doesn't specifically mention The Wynn Hospital, however if federal funds go to parking garage/eminent domain, then lawsuits become federal cases. See, oneida county communities mull how spend american rescue plan funds

June 24, 2021 - No mention of lawsuits against Oneida County's use of eminent domain in today's reporting, Downtown parking: Utica, Oneida County spat over hospital garage only part of the problem

June 15, 2021 - In the newspaper, Oneida County executive clashes with city of Utica over paying for hospital parking garage and on TV, Funding For Wynn Hospital Parking Garage Called Into Question. Seems #TheWynnHospital parking garage has funding issues...

Also in the news, "Mayor redirected $3M from Kennedy Garage repairs (URI funds per ESD Eric Girdler) to new Wynn Hospital garage, stating that’s $6M to support garage, on top of nearly $8M in infrastructure." See, Utica committing 3 Million toward Wynn Hospital garage.

June 14, 2021 - Story at WIBX titled, palmieri defends utica parking garage decision no local government entity has done more than utica / Palmieri Fires Back: 'Inaccurate Rhetoric' over Parking Garage.

Over the past month, Empire State Development (ESD) officials, including President & CEO Eric Gertler, and Mayor Palmieri spoke several times to discuss ways the city could assist in financing a new parking garage to support the Wynn Hospital of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) in downtown Utica.

As the city’s been a steadfast supporter of the hospital project, Mayor Palmieri suggested the city contribute $3 million of its funding from the Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI), that was originally allocated towards repairs of Kennedy Parking Garage, to the construction of the new parking garage.

Including the $3 million URI grant, the city has contributed a total of $6 million in grant funds towards the new parking garage. The city secured these grants for other purposes; but, in being a strong project partner, decided to contribute the funds to the garage. In addition, the city has invested nearly $8 million in infrastructure improvements to ensure the hospital project comes to fruition.

No other local government entity has done or invested more to support the hospital project.

The city has not backed away from its commitment, but rather stepped up and decided to finance its commitment of the garage by reallocating its secured grant funding. In conversations with state officials, this arrangement was agreed to by all parties. It is disappointing the city must address inaccurate claims and rhetoric.

City residents should not be expected to pay any more for a health care facility that will serve as a regional asset. Moving forward, Mayor Palmieri and his Administration, in collaboration with the Members of the Common Council, will focus on the city’s needs and make the necessary investments to ensure Utica’s continued transformation.

https://wibx950.com/palmieri-defends-utica-parking-garage-decision-no-local-government-entity-has-done-more-than-utica/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

June 14, 2021 - Eminent domain by Oneida County is unecessary. The hospital/public parking garage can be accomodated witout it and with Much Better Results, for Example.

June 9, 2021 - More planned funding for parking garage before land is owned, Oneida County Provide $2.5 Million For Utica Parking Garage Design...

May 19, 2021 - Eminent domain by Oneida County, for the hospital's parking garage, hits a snag...

Ongoing Legal issues as City of Utica also discusses use of eminent domain, When and where to voice your opinion on the use of eminent domain for Utica hospital.

2020

August 19, 2020 - One day we fear, as a result of this fact: Health care workers have been attacked in parking garages for decades. Why haven't hospitals done more to make them safe?, a new hospital at Utica's Oneida County Medical District was the right choice.

September 8, 2020 - At least five places to build a parking garage...

Utica should pick historic Preservation, significant Erie Canal Heritage to protect.

2019

September 19, 2019 - Downtown Utica Hospital Site Plan Approved, where one may read...

The Planning Board’s vote was unanimous, but the site plan approval is specifically contingent on the health system entering into an agreement to construct a parking garage with an adequate number of handicapped parking spots. “It’s a condition that needs to be fulfilled prior to the building being occupied for its purposes,” said Kathryn Hartnett, assistant corporation counsel for the city. Development of the parking garage has been identified as a joint venture between the city and Oneida County, with the county taking the lead on funding the project. Specific details, such as the exact number of spaces and the cost breakdown, have yet to be released; the firm MARCH Associates Architects & Planners was hired last year to design the garage, responding to a request for proposals for a 1,550-space facility with at least three levels.

FEIS: Parking Facilities

September 21, 2019 - Parking facilities constructed under this Project will consist of a three-story, municipally-owned parking garage (1,550± spaces) and multiple surface parking lots (780± spaces), for a total of approximately 2,330 spaces.

Dedicated spaces are summarized below:

Hospital (1,455± spaces)
 1,050 spaces (parking garage)
 405± spaces (parking lots)
Medical Office Building (MOB) (375± spaces)
 375± spaces (parking lots)
City-dedicated spaces (500 spaces)
 500 spaces (parking garage)

The parking garage will provide approximately 1,550± parking spaces and the parking lots will allow for an additional 780± parking spaces. Proposed surface parking space needs have been reduced from 1,100± spaces (DEIS) to 780± spaces. The reduction includes the elimination of a proposed surface parking lot originally proposed at the site of the existing Police Maintenance Facility (See Figure 3 of this FEIS Responsiveness Summary).

These parking facilities will be available for use by patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers, with the garage spaces being available for hospital-related parking, as well as to the community for non-hospital related events. (See page 10 of 1007 Ref. FEIS).

Also in the FEIS (see page 474 of 1007, the Traffic Impact Study - Addendum), one reads..

Emergency Department surface parking between the main hospital building and State Street with a total of 79 spaces with access on Columbia Street and State Street as well as direct access to the garage.

These spaces suggest the Helipad would double as a parking lot, not a grassy lot, or park-like setting.

Consider - The current St. Elizabeth Medical Center Parking options.

May 17, 2019 - Today we see the Varick Street Brewery District having parking issues related to new development and a staple event; read Where to park for Saranac Thursdays with Court Street lot closed. We discuss this Parking Issue On #NoHospitalDowntown.

2018

December 30, 2018 - OUR VIEW: Downtown parking must be addressed

December 2, 2018 - News story titled, Downtown hospital: Where will people park?, offers downtown hospital parking plans...

Utica's Unfunded Hospital Retirement Plan

October 10, 2018 - Oneida County approves design firm for hospital parking garage

August 8, 2018 - Oneida County earmarks $500,000 for downtown hospital parking garage

This news story, MVHS- Eminent Domain Won't Tie-up Hospital Project and the accompanying Image, shows more than 3,675 parking spaces in and around proposed hospital!

May 17, 2018 - Oneida County pushing parking garage, big bond debt facing residents for downtown hospital parking...

Is the Oneida County Budget and Utica's ready to fund this parking garage?

May 9, 2018 - The projections of required hospital parking spaces are totally and absolutely suspect, like most figures that MVEDGE has provided...

Seattle hospital (with LOTS more residents with cars) and 5 parking spaces/bed, yet Utica's proposed downtown hospital with 8 parking spaces/bed, why?

January 9, 2018 - Another concerned Utica resident sees the problem that's well recognized by urban design professionals...

2017

December 9, 2017 - "The sheer amount of asphalt dwarfs the hospital itself..."

November 17, 2017 - Downtown Utica has already been destroyed by surface parking! Now the "yes people" of Downtown MVHS say, "More, more, more"...

November 14, 2017 - Even people in Syracuse have heard about this nightmare (parking) concept proposed in Downtown Utica...

October 23, 2017 - There is a great deal of evidence that parking is "Viscerally Unpleasant" and "Disorienting" to neighborhoods...

August 25, 2017 - No parking garage agreement means no C.O.N., that's why the Utica Observer-Dispatch says...

And this from July...

August 22, 2017 - Reporting from Rome today we read, County, Utica reach tentative deal on downtown parking garage and learn...

"Without the county-city financing for the garage, the hospital project cannot move forward, according to several people associated with the planned hospital."

August 21, 2017 - Utica Mayor Palmieri and Comptroller Morehouse offer press release, Palmieri & Morehouse Pledge City Funding: For 40% Of MVHS Parking Garage Construction.

July 25, 2017 - We are hearing... "If there's no garage, there's no downtown hospital," Steve DiMeo

July 3, 2017 - Expensive to build parking garages, one to be placed onto the backs of Oneida County taxpayers...

They also would include large surface lot(s) as well, and we have good reasons to believe there's a second parking garage hiding within the "hidden agenda" of their ill-conceived hospital concept!

July 2, 2017 - Utica seeks to bond $4.1M to repair deteriorating parking garages

May 22, 2017 - Too much of Downtown Utica has been rendered into parking...

May 12, 2017 - Looking to Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we're reading Move to Medical Campus will mean bigger parking fees for Children's Hospital workers. Still no word on cost to park at future downtown hospital...

April 21, 2017 - Utica parking lot ready for development

January 9, 2017 - In story titled Architects, construction manager named for MVHS hospital project, one reads...

"... in September 2015 that it had chosen a site located between Oriskany, Columbia and State streets and Broadway in downtown Utica for the hospital, assuming that site proved feasible. A parking garage or two and at least one medical office building also would be constructed in the neighborhood."

2016

December 19, 2016 - Parking garage in downtown at risk of collasping, Utica parking garage getting support...

August 18, 2016 - "Parking: The project will include one or two parking garages; officials are leaning toward two so that one can be reserved for staff and visitors, while the other could be opened to the public after business hours."

2015

August 28, 2015 - Patching Utica’s parking garages

January 19, 2015 - Utica parking garages in disrepair

2014

Utica-area hears Picente report: "Oneida County is committed to the Comets, Utica College and to the economic development of this county. That’s why when Comets and Utica College Hockey were bringing 3000 plus people a night downtown, a problem began to resurface. Some might say a good problem to have: Parking. We provided $500,000 to the Auditorium Authority to build a brand new parking lot." Reference, the 2014 State Of The County Address.

We believe Utica's downtown hospital concept is a disaster!

2011

May 21, 2011 - Looking back, we have real concern for downtown development, the most recent ($325,000) Master Plan, and parking. Consider this downtown story, A Paucity of Planning for Public Parking.

May 15, 2011 - And Paula Horrigan, a Cornell University professor and one of the overseers of the Rust to Green Utica project, said in Critics assail downtown Utica parking plan...

"...more surface parking is the opposite direction in which cities are going. She pointed out the Utica Master Plan still is in draft form, and called it a “shortsighted, inappropriate approach. I would like to know what the city is doing to encourage creative investors who want to take a risk on a city where there is not a lot of vitality,” she said. “I cannot believe parking is the main issue.”

March 07, 2011 - At his “State of the City” address in May, Mayor David Roefaro called plans for a downtown parking garage his “most ambitious project for the city”, read additional commentary at Pondering Parking ... and Park Ave.

2008

April 26, 2008 - Parking garage planned for Charlotte Street

2004

March 16, 2004 - Read the Downtown Utica Parking Study, titled 2004 PARKING PLAN UPDATE: CITY OF UTICA, NY.

Parking lots of cars - cars that are projected to fade from urban neighborhoods - plus many other reasons we list at, What's Wrong With The Downtown Hospital Concept?

No Studies, No Reports, thus we remain #NoHospitalDowntown

Our research is ongoing, please check back. Our research is ongoing, please check back.