Parking Wars: A 530-Car Garage for Arch Street?

Image via PlanPhillyHere’s something that could be happening right outside Grid‘s Arch Street office: The Inquirer reports that a proposal was recently made for a 530-car Convention Center parking garage. The five-story structure would be built between Juniper Street and the Arch Street United Methodist Church.

Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron is clearly not into the idea, making valid points about Convention Center visitors’ willingness to walk or take public transit to events (a parking garage could potentially lead to hordes of traffic), and argues that a towering garage will not improve Arch Street’s aesthetic. She says:

It may be human nature to seek a garage close to your destination, but it’s sure not good planning. With a major venue such as the Convention Center, the last thing cities want to do is encourage visitors to drive up to the front door en masse.

PlanPhilly also did a piece on the garage early last month, citing that advocates for the United Methodist Church are also concerned about potential damage to the historic building’s facade during construction.

A public meeting about the plan will be held at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Arch Street United Methodist Church.