To the editor:
The planning concept for the mixed-use parking deck as presented in Tuesday’s Town Board meeting looks 
at first glance to cover the town’s parking need for commuters and shoppers in a functional and attractive way. (July 15, “Parking deck/office building proposed downtown.”) I am concerned, though, that the concept as presented does not seem to give adequate consideration to the character and future of the Davidson Farmers Market which the parking deck would displace.
The farmers market has become a centerpiece of Davidson community life, a true meeting and market place beyond the mere shopping function, a charming part of Davidson’s identity and integral to its quality of life. Banishing the farmers market to the top level of the parking deck would risk this role of the market as a center of community life.
I hope that as the planning for the parking deck evolves it will be possible to integrate and accommodate the market in a way which maintains its character and its role for the community.
Hans Diessel
Asbhy Drive
Is there a reason that the Farmers Market is not held on the green? I agree with the writer that no matter how nice the top of a parking deck can be made, the open feel of the market could not be maintained.
Given a choice would Davidson citizens prefer a $600,000 roundabout at Rocky River/Davidson Concord Road or a downtown parking deck?
I’d rather see a $600,000 permanent farmer’s market built on ground level in town center. The market is the most popular endeavor I’ve seen in 20 years in Davidson. Why ruin it with a parking deck for commuters? Put the parking deck in Sadler Square, along the train line. A $600,000 roundabout? How about 4-way stop signs with flashing lights for $10,000? Oops, this violates NC’s “cars always first” rule, so very doubtful.
As someone who admittedly leans to the more fiscal conservative side, I actually think the parking deck idea is a tremendous one. It is vital if we want to maintain and build on our vibrant downtown. Blowing Rock has a nice deck which helps their Main Street stores stay busy.
I do not, however, think the Town should be involved in office development (that was my argument against the cable purchase all along, the town should not be in private sector business). I do think a using a private developer for that part of the project may make sense.
I also wonder the same thing Mr. Young asked: why not hold the Farmer’s Market on the Green. I think the increased visibility would attract even more customers. Granted there are a couple conflicts (town day for example) but I think the increased visibility would outweigh the scheduling hurdles.
Didn’t the linked article say that the roundabout is being funded by the DOT?
I don’t think the Green is a good place for the Farmer’s Market. It would seem to be in the way of too many things. But the thought of having a farmer’s market on top of a parking deck strikes me as funny. Come to think of it, a parking deck seems terribly out of place in Davidson. Isn’t that one of the reasons we don’t want the commuter rail to terminate here, so we won’t need an unsightly parking deck for all the Iredell County folk?
The more I think about the parking deck, the more dubious it seems– unless it’s a planner’s what-if fantasy for a decade or so down the road. Davidson’s downtown shopping is mostly niche/optional. I’d like to see the plan that includes groceries, clothing, household, pizza, medical clinic and other heavy-traffic drawing merchants that would require another 250 7/24 parking spaces. It doesn’t make sense to provide parking for 300 here today/gone tonight train commuters who won’t materialize for ten years– if ever.
I spend about $50 at every farmer’s market. I don’t spend that much in a month at all other Main St. merchants combined. The Farmer’s Market is a big hit, and the town, if it could figure out a way to earn rent and collect sales tax, would probably earn a profit. Town leaders should earnestly find a way to make an attractive all-season market a reality. This is the direction many of the more progressive communities in the world are moving– local food, know your farmers, etc. Davidson should be at the forefront of this, not aping the “we’ve arrived, look at our big parking deck” corporate mono-culture. Existing merchants would benefit more from the spillover effect of a market than the dubious concept that a stampede of knitters, ice cream lovers, bank customers and knick-knack hunters would flock to Davidson because of a parking deck.
I think the parking deck is a good idea, but not for the Farmer’s market. Over the last year I have worked with many reputable retailers who will NOT move to Davidson because of parking. A good business needs 30+ dedicated spaces at all times and we just can’t provide this. If the town is going to attract the established and quality business owners, we need more parking. While it may be a planners’ fantasy at this point, at least its a concept to discuss. Parking comes first and then the kinds of merchants discussed above.
It’s sometimes interesting to say what if “people and bikes come first.” In the most attractive, successful retail sections I’ve experienced, parking has been hellacious. Look at Soho, Georgetown, Annapolis, Chapel Hill. People don’t flock there because of easy parking. Where it’s easy, you have Shoe Locker, The Gap, Total Wine, Dick’s, Barnes & Noble and Max & Erma’s. Are they Davidson’s future?
Actually, one of the prospective merchants for the Stowe building was a well known chef from Charlotte who wanted to integrate with the farmer’s market and serve local cuisine. Another prospect has a very popular deli in Cornelius and can’t figure out where his customers would park at Christmas time. Both ultimately decided against Davidson because of parking, specifically. I agree, though, that in a dream world everyone walks and bikes. I think Davidson’s policies on franchise architecture take care of the threat of large box retailers.
I would question whether it is the responsibility of the taxpayer to assure the success of any business in Davidson. If a business can not make it in Davidson without the taxpayers spending 5 million+ dollars on a parking deck, then perhaps this isn’t the town for them. The developers should be the ones building parking for their buildings, not me.
Years ago, when Tim Keane was planner, an interesting concept was floated that Sadler Square should be replaced with a multi-level parking/retail/office/apartment/transit hub– right on the rail line and the main Griffith St. in/out corridor, less than a 5 minute walk to Main St. If downtown retailers need 10 sec. access to their Main St. shops, and that wins the day, Davidson will be a very different place than if it chooses a central farmer’s market.
The Davidson Farmers Market Committee has a statement about the proposed parking deck and the fate of the market. It’s titled “Either – Or: We think not! A statement from the DFM Committee regarding the parking deck in Davidson” …
Signed by Chair Carol Mayes, market manager Mary Jane Leach and 9 others, it says, in part: “We believe, like the town, that the parking deck is needed for further development of downtown Davidson. The DFM desires to incorporate the market into the design of the deck and its adjacent public space in a way that meets the needs of both town and market, and believes this to be an achievable, desirable outcome. We are all committed to this idea.”
Download the full statement (PDF).