To the editor:
Remember five or six years ago when the downtown business community thought the next big threat to our survival was going to be the grand opening of the SoNo Mall in Norwalk?
The first new mall built in Connecticut in a generation.
Well, as we all know, its threat never materialized and the SoNo Mall has even been highlighted on the “Dead Malls” website, documenting the destruction and dismantling of malls throughout the country. And we are still here.
Remember when COVID shut down every business that was deemed not “essential?” Well, it was a long, tough struggle back but the downtown business community is still here.
The downtown business community is nothing, if not resilient.
That is why it pains me to write this. Over the past few months I think we have finally discovered the one threat that represents the greatest risk to the downtown business sector. A deadly threat, that unlike what any of us ever anticipated, now poses to do more damage to our hard won successes, as a once again thriving sector, than even COVID inflicted upon us.
What is it, you ask ?
The facts, as they have become known, have become indisputable.
The greatest risk to the strength and vibrancy of the downtown business sector today is First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and her administration. In short, the Tooker administration has inexplicably become outright hostile to Westport’s downtown businesses.
I make this sad observation having been a Westport resident for over 20 years now, but even more so as a successful downtown business owner.
The evidence is inescapable. Downtown businesses need parking to survive. Parking for our customers, as well as parking for our staff and for residents. This single simple fact is hardly news, parking has been the perennial issue downtown for decades and even predates the construction of the Parker Harding parking lot.
Nevertheless, it is suddenly right back on everyone’s radar because of the current proposal by the administration to radically redesign the Parker Harding parking lot by reducing the number of parking spaces!
The medical profession is guided by one overarching mandate: “First do no harm.” The Tooker administration would do well to heed those wise words.
No matter how many times the administration hits “pause” on its design in the face of overwhelming community opposition, they still keep coming back. Every time they do, one thing remains consistent — fewer parking spaces then what currently exists.
We don’t need fewer parking spaces! First, do no harm! If your plan doesn’t create more parking spaces don’t pursue your plan!
Do our parking lots need “maintenance?” Absolutely. But that means fix them, add crosswalks, and above all, more ADA parking. Then beautify what we have and stop!
Who does not love green space, but a choice does have to be made in the downtown. Do we the residents of Westport want a vibrant downtown with merchants and restaurants whose patrons and staff can find a place to park, or do we simply want to drive our cars to a deserted downtown to go for a river stroll?
I cannot be any clearer on this point: Without parking, businesses will have no choice but to close. Most of us receive copious numbers of complaints daily about the lack of parking. This is why removing large swaths of parking to replace them with green space is “anti-business.” That is why I can unequivocally state that the Tooker administration, in pursuing the radical parking redesign, is anti-business.
I appeal to the wisdom of the P&Z to stand steadfast and deny this anti-business application when it comes before it in the coming weeks. The Tooker administration refuses to listen to reason. You, P&Z commissioners, are our only and last hope. Please do the right thing and stand with downtown businesses!
Ciara Webster
What irony! Tooker wants green space downtown at the expense of sorely needed parking, yet out in Long Lots Land, she would rather annihilate a community garden to put in a baseball field.
And to make the irony even more rueful Toni, at both of these sites the First Selectwoman blissfully plows right ahead in a conviction of utter certainty that she, alone, knows what is best. All the while ignoring the numerous and thunderous voices raised by the community beseaching her to please stop, listen, and avoid her destructive course of action. Nothing is as frightening and uncertain as leader who will not listen.
John F. Suggs
“Often wrong, never in doubt.” Sigh,
In life, regrets often stem not from what we did, but what we didn’t do. if our First Selectwoman can’t make the obvious right decisions, I really hope town officials on boards/committees take a stand to save our vibrant business community and our Garden/Preserves. Most Westporters see these as slam-dunk decisions.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Excellent letter. I can’t help but wonder the real motivation behind this whole parking plan. And I believe this letter echos the sentiment of most, if not all, of the businesses downtown.
The most disgusting abuse of power is when a place in westpot is left to rot, such as the parker harding lot and the Barron’s land south, public will not cower. The town charter squarely puts responsibility for the parking lot with the first select person whom we would have hoped would be smarter. So when you see garbage strewn around and no maintenance for years, one knows who to look to, to cast blame and feeding into jeers. To hold hostage such maintenance in order to pursuade the public into needing, an unusful and problimatic redesign, the spaces need not be realigned. Having spentt many an hour doing the weeding there because no one ellse would, descided to do some reserch and found the first select personvthe one that should. In the writing of the letter, found the author one whos better. Garbage ideas to muster, everday seeing the dreadful cluster. Thank god they will not but do, remove the needed cut through. Drew frieldman sent me to investigate, the parking for his real estate
Given the Westport business community’s very legitimate concern about downtown parking, I would then expect that they would enthusiastically support the solution fully available to us to both downtown parking and to achieve a true connection to the riverfront that would enhance business and our town in so many ways. This would be to transform the Parker Harding lot to a multi-use riverfront promenade and build a garage or parking deck in our very spacious Elm Street lot. At the very least, this process can be begun by one way or another vertically expanding the parking capacity of the Elm Street lot. If the current downtown plan is adopted, we will be consigning ourselves to an uninviting, somewhat dreary downtown for a least another generation or two.
I wrote at much greater length about this in 06880, and the many comments my post received almost unanimously support a bolder, truly transformative approach to our downtown’s future: https://06880danwoog.com/2023/09/22/opinion-longshore-like-option-needed-for-parker-harding/
The problem facing the downtown merchats is far more extensive than parking spaces .The traffic congestion already rivals LA and that’s before the affordable housing projects lining the Post Rd. from Southport to Norwalk add to the congestion. Soon it will be paralysis. THen let’s consider the subject no one mentions: crime. Why are malls in trouble from San Fransisco to SoNo? Why does Coleytown Alerts deliver daily emails announching crimes committed 3 to 4 miles from my home. Why does the Westport Ave, Walgreens have to lock up their shelves from everything from fragrance to Advil? Why were their shopping carts stolen? Who carjecked our neighbor on Bayberry in his own driveway?
So the proposal to build an enclosed high rise garage within feet of affordable housing is not a safe solution.It is an invitation to a mugging.
Crimes are not committed by Westport homeowners. I’ve never been concerned existing Metro North alone in the dark walking to my luxury car carrying a Birkin bag . But you can bet your life that feeling of safety and security is about to change.
As for the first selectwoman’s hypocrisy in proposing open space on the riverfront, under her administration we’re building affordable housing on the Taylortown SaltMarsh.