. . . you don't need all that parking.
A couple of those who commented on my rant against the Twin Oaks library's excessive parking suggested that there might actually be demand for those 51 parking spots. Story hour, for example, could draw dozens of kids.
But parking spots are not necessary simply because they might be occupied sometime during the week, month or year.
My wife took my two kids to the Twin Oaks' grand opening last week. (I've reserved Saturday mornings for, uh, intense meditation.)
She said the place was packed. She estimated that hundreds turned out for the opening. People were often packed shoulder-to-shoulder inside the library. Outside, two tents had been set up next to the parking lot -- one for dignitaries like the mayor and the other for food. There was even a band.
As for the parking lot, it was closed to all but a handful of cars. They needed that space for the people.
So on what will surely be the library's busiest day ever, its patrons managed to find street parking. Which means the City built too much parking. QED.
