Inbox: Apartments, Cars and Parking

The article states the problem ["Block Busters," WW, Sept. 19, 2012]. You spoke to 10 residents who have 11 cars among them. It doesn't matter if they don't drive them very often, they still have to be parked.

The apartment complexes along the Max Red/Blue lines west of the city had the same problem. City "leaders" predicted people would find being close to transit so convenient they wouldn't need cars. So, they didn't put in adequate parking. This may be true and perhaps they don't need cars, but they all still have cars.

The solution along Division Street (and probably Hawthorne) seems obvious. Make parking permit-only. Give each homeowner first dibs on the curb in front of their home. They can either use it to park their own vehicles or rent the space to a tenant of one of the apartment buildings.

This would have a couple of effects. First, it would force the urban sustainable granola types who live in these apartments to make a decision on whether or not they really want to commit to a car-free lifestyle. Second, the developers of these apartments will have to confront the reality of how much people are willing to pay for an apartment with no parking.

—"Stretch"


If I owned a car and wanted to [rent] one of these cheaply built boxes, I might ask myself, "Is there parking within a few feet of my unit?" If the answer was no, and I went ahead and [rented], then I'm taking responsibility for the decision. I have to live with the fact that I need to walk to my car—in the rain. If I am an agitated neighbor who sees an influx of cars in the 'hood, tough shit. Them's the breaks. Or brakes. If it is legal, I say build them and they will come and you'll work it out. Sell a car, buy a bike.

—"Park Mycar"


DIRECT APPROACH TO FLUORIDE

This issue is not something new to the Portland area ["Should Portland Have OK'd Fluoridation Without a Vote of the People?," WW, Sept. 19, 2012]. Why do you think we are still one of the largest cities in America that has chosen to not fluoridate its water? It is simple: We don't need it! We know how to take care of our teeth.

Honestly, is not the direct application of fluoride to the teeth the best way to insure it gets to all the correct places?

—"Jim"


IS FEAST ELITIST OR JUST TASTY?

Nice write-up ["10 Things You Can See at Feast," WW, Sept. 19, 2012]. I think you pretty much nailed it.

Everything is crazy expensive. I'm surprised they didn't include at least a couple of affordable events for people to go to. It makes the whole thing feel elitist. Which I suppose it is.

—"adlangx"


It was delicious. Deal with it. 

—"Jon"

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