I had wanted to shop at REI but never went inside once I understood I had to pay to park. Parking should be free at the Railyard. Why spend 1 or 2 dollars just to shop? If I had to pay to shop at San Busco Center I'd avoid that too. One possible compromise is that merchants stamp your receipt if you make a purchase and then your parking is free.

I agree. I won't shop at REI unless it is after hour when I can find a free space. Maybe the city should use the parking lot for other uses such as a flea market or maybe a farmers market for the outcast farmers who are snubbed by the highly priced market upstairs. The Underground Farmers Market!

My wife and I are still new residents to the area, and we were excited to check out the improvements in the Railroad district.

In my earlier life I was a consultant to business and communities throughout the west- primarily marketing science, tourism, etc.

We found the area to be very pedestrian friendly, which is just now finally becoming a priority, but for a newcomer (worse for a tourist) especially the parking garage is anything but easy to find and use.

Signs and design for cars is a problem. Public parking directional signs exist, but I thought they were directing us to the exterior paid parking, which is what we used. The parking garage entrance appears to be a dead end street. It was only on our second visit to the area that we found the garage.

Similar to most other communities, locals- particularly those who have lived in the area a long time- lack the fresh eyes to see the problems for others.

Overall it's an exciting district for us, especially in contrast to the historic district that we also find to be a draw, but if it takes me two trips to find that the garage exists, and it's a hassle to find the entrance, then we should not expect it to be different for others- particularly tourists.

We would have preferred to use the garage on both visits due to weather.

Sorry, the parking system doesn't allow for merchant validation. And you also can't park for free to complain at City hall anymore. The interesting thing is that parking is free elsewhere on Sundays and holidays, but not at the railyard. Good thinking, planners.

I am very familiar with real estate development and finance. This parking garage WILL NEVER pay for itself. It is a huge taxpayer boondoggle that we will be paying for for a very long time.

When is this city going to learn that perhaps it should hire professionals to create budgets, do proformas and prepare financial feasibility of projects.

Just use the recent examples of projects the city has done where reality does not meet up with what the city projected: Chavez Center, MRC golf course, and parking garage. And I would bet, the new Convention Center, is also not going to meet financial projections that the city put together.

To top it off, they are now looking to "study" the feasibility of developing the NW Quadrant. Not to mention that the city may lose out on the bonds that were issued for the Thornburg campus. All of the above noted projects are going to be paid for out of our tax dollars. And when Hon says that we can make up for shortfalls by using the "reserves", he does not tell us that these reserves are there not just for operating losses, but for other unforeseen circumstances, which do not include missing projections on the revenue side. His excuse that the economy and the slow build-out of the project are just that, excuses. Even when this project is close to being fully occupied with tenants, parking will be an issue. What these city planners failed to realize is that Santa Fean's DON'T and WON'T pay for parking in the Railyard. It would be better to realize this fact now and suck it up. Give parking away for free and QUIT making the system impossible to understand....what an absolute cluster "f" of a design from Guadalupe all the way into the project. Just unbelievable.

still way too early too be passing final judgement. I'm sure an adjusted fee schedule could be worked out that ensures turnover of spaces, a fair rate for those using the structure all day and a reasonable rate for those who just want to shop for an hour or two. It will pay for itself eventually and be a moneymaker. Planning and projections were based on things opening on time and the full buildout including the theatre - and certainly not what has happened the economy. If winter ever ends and when visitors come to Santa Fe this summer, people will be filling this facility.

Maybe if the city discounted parking for commuters to the extent that it discounts for the Farmers Market then it would begin to get some revenue. Why pay when you can drive and park for free at the So Capital Station.Also why are those going to the Farmers Market complaining about the extra dollar for parking should the city impose a $2/day fee. If people can pay outrageous prices for vegetables, meats and crafts---sometimes even higher or as high as Whole Foods they can stop whining about the extra dollar

What would work well, I believe, is a special gross receipts district there. The gross receipts rate could be a bit higher there to pay for parking. Most people would not notice it and they would get their "free" parking. The project would get paid for by the people who use it. K-I-S-S, you know, Keep It Simple Sarah......

Well hopefully after this article ppl will know it is there! Let's face it, the garage is hard to get to, it is not free, and there isn't much to do up above!Racists, why don't you blame it on the immigrants like you know how...lol

When there are acres of free parking for Wal Mart, Target, PetsMart, Trader Joes, Smiths, Albertsons, Lowes Foods, Big Lots...those stores get my business, which is what I can afford on my living wage salary. Railyard is for the idle rich and turistas, not the average SF worker bee.

When there are acres of free parking for Wal Mart, Target, PetsMart, Trader Joes, Smiths, Albertsons, Lowes Foods, Big Lots...those stores get my business, which is what I can afford on my living wage salary. Railyard is for the idle rich and turistas, not the average SF worker bee.

again - this parking was designed to support a community space and pedestrian experience in addition to the train, the park, the farmers market, and local in the guadalupe area which have always had parking shortages. It is not simply about going shopping and there was not enough land nor a desire to create acres of an ugly above-ground free parking lot. Apples and oranges. The railyard area hasn't gotten off the ground yet for various reasons and adjustments do need to be made to the parking pricing structure.

By the way, try walking the couple hundred yards from PetsMart to Target. Impossible and not a model for how things should be done anywhere.

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