Does anyone remember the pledge by the library developer and the city to build an underground parking garage on the property south of the library? The same property that the city now wants to use as a transit center where light rail is scheduled to terminate? I sent an email to two city council members reminding them of this pledge that was confirmed in a Columbian newspaper article (“New downtown library opens today,” The Columbian, July 17, 2011). The article stated “the promoters of the mixed-development library square have pledged an underground parking garage with 200 slots reserved for library users.” Neither councilor responded to my email.
Does the library need additional parking? Probably not. But that is not the point. The point is when a developer, or the city, makes a pledge to the voters, that pledge should be satisfied.
I doubt the pledged parking garage will ever be built.
