The park expansion was promised years ago, and will add not only green space to "Old Town," but also a bit more staging space to accommodate crowds for events. If there's enough parking space downtown to pack the Independence Day Parade and the Chocolate Lovers' Festival, there's enough parking space to serve the clientele of day-to-day businesses. Motivating people to walk a block from parking space to shopping/dining destination is the business of BUSINESS, not of City Council. A shining example is Victoria's Cakery, which started out in a tiny space where many other businesses had failed, and where there was ZERO nearby parking (other than on-street) available for customers or deliveries--and which continues to thrive.

I think most of the people mentioned in this article missed the point. Downtown businesses are not concerned about moving the parking spaces farther behind the park; they are concerned about inadequate parking and the need to create more parking for the old town section.

A park on the corner of University Drive and North Street will NOT attract people. Who in their right mind would bring small children to the city on an evening or weekend afternoon, park 3 blocks away in a multi level parking garage, cross an intersection where cars are driving 50 mph (North Street) and running red lights, to sit on a bench on a crowded corner? Sorry, but that will not happen. If this is not planned better, Old Town Fairfax will disappear. This has been done without any support or consultation from businesses in Old Town. And, to prove the concerns, just about every business owner in Old Town (including Victoria's Cakery) has signed a petition to keep the parking lot. Most people do not understand how moving this parking will hurt businesses. These shops have to be in business every day of the year, not just during special events. There are alternative answers that make more sense to everyone, including businesses- one of which was a previous plan, that was quickly passed over, but has support from businesses- this would involve creating the open space on the other side of Pozer Park, and keeping (but beautifying) the parking lot on University. This lot is crucial to the survival of many shops up and down Main Street and around to 123.

There are dying malls and empty strip shopping centers in this region and all across America. They have plenty of free parking right outside their doors. If parking is all it takes to make business successful, how come so many are failing that have it? Urban areas have people that live there and WALK there. Two of the best examples are Fairfax Corner (which is where many residents of the City are taking their business) and Reston Town Center - which has a mix of offices, high density housing, retail and restaurants. Both of those spaces also have a "square" where people can sit, meet, let their kids play and where performances take place. I think we need more strategic planning for the entire City - a great point made by the engineer who came to the last meeting.

Correct that it is not JUST a parking issue. But every business owner I talk to hears the same things from their customers. But what is interesting is that the business community has not really been engaged in this discussion. If we don't have a movie theater, lots of businesses (which we won't any time soon), and convenient parking to the few businesses that ARE here, nobody will come to this park. We hear it every single day from people. There does have to be a more comprehensive plan. But it must involve parking. I can guarantee vacant buildings if this is ignored. Keep in mind- EVERY single business owner in Old Town agrees. These are not naive people. These are people that have worked hard to build a business.

I agree with the business owners. Parking is already scarce, and it is difficult already for would-be patrons of the downtown businesses to safely navigate heavily congested streets to reach their destination. Removing the only centrally-located parking lot in the city is going to make the situation worse, and what few customers these businesses have now will surely be lost. Although I have lived in the city for 20+ years, I rarely (if ever) frequent the businesses downtown for reasons of parking. I also can't help but think that parking issues (not to mention vehicular and pedestrian traffic dangers created by the conversion of North Street/Main Street to two-way traffic) have played a role in the failure of so many downtown businesses. Every lost business results in lost tax revenue for the city, and more revenue (both corporate and municipal) stands to be lost as a result of this ill-conceived proposal. As such, it would behoove the city council to pass up this plan for the sake of all concerned.

The Downtown Fairfax Coalition has tshirts for sale to support the Old Town Fairfax businesses in their quest to save the parking. Email Fairfaxcity@hotmail.com and we'll provide details for ordering. It's important to show your support and wear these shirts around town and to the Council meeting on Jan. 24th. Make your voice heard and wear the message. We need your support!

They were strategic meetings since 1995, when I open my first business in old town. In these meetings everybody acknowledged the need for more parking. Yet, we always end up with less parking and more empty buildings and an always empty park. Most of the residents go somewhere else because they know they can find parking. I left the city around 7pm, give yourselves a favor and drive downtown, there is not a single parking left because there is an event in the old town hall. You don’t care what will happen to our business, I am sure you care for your investment (your home). Do you think your home values will go up and property taxes down? If downtown fails you will impacted more than you think. If you don’t believe me look at Farrcroft. Compare the values of 2005 when the redevelopment started to now. You will get the idea. Help us preserve the little parking we have, come to the meeting on 24th and please support the plan that preserve the 39 spaces adjacent to the old town hall and help us create more. Please…

Fairfax City started going down hill when they ran T.T. Reynold's out.

Currently I coordinate & manage the Sunday Farmers' Market at George Mason Square for the Downtown Fairfax Coalition. In my opinion the current redevelopment plan proposed by the City Council is problematic for continuing this market. The current plan eliminates 32 parking spaces from the block. There would be very little customer parking in the lot (most of the space would be taken by vendors) and there would be no parking at Old Town Hall. In addition, we would be taking the parking away from the merchants in downtown and the groups (churches, etc.) that rent Old Town Hall. These people are our customers & we cannot do that. Establishing and building farmers' markets is difficult under the best of circumstances, however, since the Sunday Market began three years ago, we have seen a succession of businesses disappear – Metrodiner, Second Yard, the Crafts Marketplace, Fosters Grill, Piccomolo, & Mama Lucia’s. There's been much discussion about the need for people to walk to their destinations. In fact, we have bikers, walkers, joggers, etc. attending our markets. The local bicycle shop is a big supporter of the market. We also have parents with young children, older people, and the disabled who don’t want to park in the parking garage and cross North Street (very busy & not very safe). Critical to the success of our markets has been the availability of parking, handicap accessibility, & a child-safe environment. The current plan satisfies none of these.

This is such a timely topic!

My wife and I were driving through the center of town tonight, and she noticed the empty storefronts. She's a property manager, I'm an economist, and we've lived across from GMU for almost 30 years. We talked about parking for a few seconds, but agreed the problem is a missing anchor. No big mall survives without a Macy's or a Walmart, and downtown Fairfax is no exception.

So, what's the retail anchor in Fairfax?

Do you know what my family calls Downtown Fairfax? The Food Court. I have a large family, and right now there's nothing there that draws us. I'm not going to schlep 4 young kids more than 30 feet from any parking space for walk up food service, nor am I going to risk our lives walking along the streets to visit a park, either the current or proposed, when you have Van Dyke Park, less than a mile away. I agree with Jay, until you get something in there that draws a large crowd in, it won't make a difference if it's parking or a park, the area will still suffer.

As a City of Fairfax resident who frequents those businesses - I WANT GREEN SPACE! There are plenty of parking garages that are free and covered. To make that space into a paved parking lot will take away from the flavor of the Old Town. Go ahead and threaten to leave businesses because there will ALWAYS be another business owner who supports the residents and their need and desire for GREEN SPACE! My girls sang carols there this winter, my youngest son listens to stories in Kitty Pozer park in the spring and fall and my older kids like to get Starbucks frappachinos and sit in the park. We also get library books and walk across to the park to the Farmer's Market and then read and eat apples in the park. Bottom line - it was promised as green space, we need green space and if you build it, they will come!

Kudos to Catherine Read, for being the only person here to utter the apparently taboo phrase, "public transportation." The idea that a city center should be based around businesses where people "park and go there in five minutes, grab a sandwich, and run out" is laughable. If the city wants downtown Fairfax to thrive, it needs to completely revisit its long-term plan. First recommendation: lengthen the Cue Bus hours, particularly on weekends.

I love downtown fairfax and I think I am bias because I live in Fairfax City. But in my opinion the problem here is not so much the luck of parking space as there is plenty (although probably could use better, bigger and more signs for it so non-city residents would be more aware) of their existence. Also the other problem I think is when you drive by North Street, if one don't live here and one does not know what's down here I would not stop because my first impression is office buildings - the buildings do not call me to check out the area and explore. They say this area is office building area - there is nothing interesting here for you to do. Also, people want fast and convenient. They want to see parking close to their destinations. The closer it is the better. I am always hesitant to go in a garage because of it's tightness and the fear of not being able to find my destination and not being able to find my car later on. There are just too many fears attached to a parking garage for me. So I hope more thought will be put on this and more opinions be considered before making a final decision.

I live near Old Town Fairfax. I wish the Old Town businesses success, but parking isn't the problem. As you know there is a huge, mostly unused, multilevel parking garage connected to Old Town Plaza. It is only a few minutes walk from the parking garage to any old town business. If people aren't willing to walk a few minutes to the business, maybe that business should close. Most of the businesses in Old Town are struggling not because of parking issues, but because no one wants to go there. Al Maza restaurant, Havabite, a christian book store, a vintage T-shirt store? Look at neighboring Courthouse Plaza on Willard Way, it has a huge parking lot, yet the Safeway, CVS, and other stores have very little business. Green space is a good start, but the city has to do more to bring people to the area. The city should talk to Courthouse Plaza and look into making a movie theater or concert hall in the mostly unused parking lot to bring more people to the area.

First, as a business owner I don’t want to bite the hand that feed me, we love our Fairfax residents, I am also one of them, and I met and befriended a lot of you during the 15 years in business in old town. We know, and the customers that frequent our establishments always complain about, it is not enough parking. The so call garage is sitting on a development that is .25 occupied and the businesses on that development already complain b/c the office employees or guests’ park on the unassigned spaces. In addition 40 spaces will go to the townhouses been built next door. What would it happen when the development it is fully occupied?
What we are asking for it is very similar to the other plan. Our plan also calls for creating more park area. The only difference, we are asking to preserve 39 spaces right in front of the busy intersection and our businesses, instead of making approximately 25 sq. ft. of additional park and 12 spaces of parking instead of 39. The plan we support will cost less and it’s more useful. We are in this together, whatever happens to downtown it will affect all of us. The idea of keeping the 39 spaces instead of an additional 25 sq. ft. of park in front of a busy intersection and our business is a step to the right direction. It is a good compromise, we all can live with. Thank you.

Have been a resident of Fairfax City for decades. The small Kitty Pozer garden is beautiful in the spring and in the winter with snow on the ground. Who says bigger is better? In my opinion the Pozer garden is just the right size. Note: to City Council please leave the parking lot at the Old Town Hall (Huddleson) alone. Citizens who rent out the Old Town Hall (just as I did for my husband's memorial) use the parking facilities there; the Sunday Farmer's Market uses the lot for much needed parking; local business need the space for their customers. I am a disabiled citizen, if the only parking available to me is the parking garage, guess what? I do not shop in Fairfax or patronize the local restaurants. I hope at the meeting January 24 it is decided by the Council to leave the Old Town Hall parking lot alone. If you love green space like I do, we have so many lovely parks to visit and of course the Kitty Pozer garden as it is. Finally, for ANYONE to say that the Ctiy of Fairfax is wonderful for strolling about and walking and riding a bicycle they have not visited the City recently. I was in downtown Fairfax yesterday and the traffic was incredible and moving fast. Not particularly conducive to a casual walk through town...you practically are taking your life in your hands crossing the street. Enough said by me.....

I just left a comment but upon reading the above new statements I am compelled to comment again briefly. The statement made that if a citizen doesn't wish to walk from the parking garage to the local stores then the stores are not worth going to shows a lack of awareness of a good sized segment of population. There are disabled people (just like me), elderly folks, etc. who would find it difficult to traipse from the parking garage to the downtown businesses. By the way, your comment about the Havabite is way off base. It is one of my favorite eateries and it is packed at lunchtime so some citizens must think it is worth going to.

As a business owner ( with NO designated parking) & a city resident for the last 30 years, I will add my two cents here. I hear on a daily basis from my customers,
" WHERE do you park here, Jeez?" Or " D@*&, I had to walk three blocks just to drop this off to you, parking sucks here!" Or "What garage??" .. AND, " You need one of those Smart Cars to drive these streets, lanes are too &%$ narrow! It's dangerous!" And, " I parked on the street ( Main) in the loading zone, there's no where else to park. Will I get towed??"( NO, because he/she was only going to be in my building for about 3 to 5 minutes!) I can so relate to their frustration because you see, I'm in the same boat every single day, scrounging for a CONVENIENTplace to park so I can go to WORK!!!!! And God forbid I leave in the middle of the day, especially during lunch time, because I might have to drive around the block for 15 minutes and STILL find no parking...( and then wind up going to that out-of-the-way garage my customers can't find). :o/

We live outside of Fairfax, but I travel with my family regularly for dinner at Auld Sabeen. Unfortunately, even after finding parking, I feel like we are putting our lives at risk as traffic hurtles by at head-height along West Street. Not even a guard rail -- sheesh! 123 is no better, I wouldn't attempt crossing at the crosswalk, even if someone DID bring Sweet Dreams back to life. What a great desert porch that was.
As I have watched the regular turnover of many businesses it occurs to me that Fairfax City has missed the boat by not creating a SAFE, pedestrian-friendly set of blocks to define a shared commercial zone. It needs to be an identified destination, and NOT one that competes with strip malls. Think better than that! Think Santa Monica, Pasadena, Boulder, Burlington VT, Fanueil in Boston, Williamsburg! An inviting place to walk, with cool places to shop and things to see. It will take both vision, and a good transition plan. And it will take significant investment. But if done right, the great, quality local businesses (like Shebeen) will survive AND thrive. And while it is probably true that marginal quality offerings will likely not survive just by virtue of being "curbside," is that really a bad thing? If change of major scale is not implemented, Fairfax City will remain a sputtering halfway unlocation, frequented primarily by those who either already work there, can't be bothered to walk five minutes for good commerce, or just don't know any better.

Let's talk PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! The Cue Bus service is great and affordable. Or, WALK! The parking garages have ample space and are NEVER packed and let's face it - our society can stand to walk more. If you do drive, the traffic is definitely an issue - though crossing at University and Rt 123 are not too bad - crossing from the Library along Old Lee Highway when we want to go to the Farmer's Market is a nightmare! Another observation – bring in businesses for the audience. Right now we have countless ethnic restaurants but my kids won’t eat there. Metro diner wasn't very good - we just didn't enjoy the food. We frequent Potbelly's and Panera but they are a little on the pricey side. Pacers isn't a place I'd take my kids for shoes because, again, their prices are high. There's NOTHING to attract my family to the shops in Old Town. We also go to the library then walk to Kitty Pozer. The summertime series in Kitty Pozer is great and we also love walking through there when the Christmas lights are up. If you want more families - bring in Family-Friendly shops! If you want more of a nightlife to attract the College crowd, there is ample garage parking available and again, the CUE bus service.

I just had to respond to a recent commenter. The comment was "ride the CUE bus or walk" to downtown shops. Fine for her/him however this shows an unawareness of another segment of the population that cannot walk from the parking garage to the downtown or who would find it very difficult to ride the CUE bus. I know our society trends toward the younger shopper. However, there is a large group of seniors and humans with disabilities who like to shop and WE HAVE MONEY TOO. Because of health issues I cannot park in the garage and walk to downtown Fairfax. I want and need parking close to my stores. I love to shop at the smaller, family owned stores and restaurants and do not care for the huge stores like Walmart. Especially enjoy going into a store or restaurant and they recognize me. I could go into Walmart 3 times a day for a month and they would never care to remember me. Also, I choose where I spend my money and I would prefer to help a small business person. Remember that is what has made America great...the dream of starting your own business and supporting your family. You know, at one time we had a lot of unique little shops in Fairfax but some of them are gone and I fear the City Council in its arrogance to proceed with the Kitty Pozer garden expansion will diminish the few remaining businesses. Therein lies the thorn, my friends..the Council will have spent millions of dollars on (in my opinion) unneeded park but sadly it may be surrounded by vacant storefronts.

I'm not sure how long the people posting comments here have lived, shopped or worked in the City of Fairfax. There use to be parking lots really close - and the stores closed... there is ample, covered parking right next to Mamma Lucia's restaurant and it closed... there was a parking lot right next to the shops on Main St. and they closed... hmmm. Seeing a pattern here. Perhaps it isn't just a PARKING ISSUE! There are tons of parking places in the Safeway parking lot and the shop at the end where the sub shop and "Happy Woof" are not located has changed hands many times over the years. Do a trend analysis - look at what has and hasn't worked. It's not just about the parking!!

Downtown business owners know what is necessary to make their businesses a success - parking, signage, marketing, etc. Why do people who have no financial interest in these businesses think they know more than the business owners? I think that the expansion of Pozer Garden is unnecessary. It is not over-used and seems to be a reasonable size for a small downtown. Concerning events - there are few events currently held in Pozer so there doesn't seem to be an unmet demand for park space for events in downtown. Concerning green space - the sidewalk planters (owned by the city and, yes, they are green space) could use a lot more attention. Nice well-maintained seasonal plantings would really improve the streetscape. Towns with much smaller budgets manage to do this much better than the City. The pots/plants (not city-owned) around the Shoppes at Main Street are the most attractive in town. It makes a difference. I think the city spaces in the downtown area have a "neglected" appearance to them -- the "Amoco" lot is unpaved with no landscaping and looks abandoned; the George Mason Square lot is unpaved with overgrown plantings; the Old Town Hall Parking lot is unpaved with no landscaping, and Pozer Garden could use some updating (removing the fence between the Old Town Hall Parking lot and Pozer would open up the park and increase its visibility). Perhaps a better course of action for the city is to improve the appearance of these spaces rather than starting more projects.

B N - Why do you think that the people writing have no financial interest in these businesses? I would argue that anyone who lives in, shops in, works in or visits Fairfax City has a financial interest. I wouldn't want to live in a ghost town! Nothing frustrates me more than people "assuming" they know what the other writers are thinking. But I do like your idea of the City improving what it already has. There are a lot of opinions flying around this blog; it's nice to see some positive suggestions. More parking might not be the only solution - improving existing parking, signage, advertising may be.

I think the problem is an unintended consequence of changing the roads to two-way a couple years ago. The traffic is too thick and fast now, and with the narrow sidewalks, you don't feel safe, you feel exposed.