February 21, 2014

Dear Sir,

As the sitting Corporation of Hamilton Council grapples with the day to day challenges of parking in and around the city, much thought is going into a variety of possible answers to this issue. There was a City of Hamilton Parking Review done in 2009 by Roger Sherratt.

In 1972 the Freeman Fox Traffic Study had suggested a multi-storey car park at the Cavendish Road car park. That is on the east side of the road at the top of Spurling Hill or as you come off Middle Road. At this time consideration has been given to the notion of building a Multi-storey complex just off Dundonald Street on the west side of Goslings Liquors. The critical thinking of course is about the cost of creating this multi-storey complex. However, I do believe with sufficient verbal and/or written support by the ratepayers, city residents and many or most of the 13-14,000 daily visitors to the city — this will strengthen the potential discussions of this council as we analyse this issue.

Perhaps there are other possible multi-storey sites that could be considered. This may even help to create a municipality/private endeavour between properties that are owned by citizens or institutions. Such locations that loom large could be the parking lot next to The Jamaican Grill on Court Street, the parking lot between Court Street and Union Street next to The Spinning Wheel Entertainment Complex. Combined these multi-storey complexes could shrink the frustration of residents and businesses in the areas, while strengthening the coffers of all the owners and partners year-round, who gallantly engage in this effort. Even the lending/banking institutions who are cordial in their working agreements stand to prosper their coffers, in fact perhaps all the lending institutions could come together and develop a programme that highlights their good corporate civic responsibility.

Other side effects would be work opportunity for thousands of our people, regularity of parking bays for daily visitors to the city, and most importantly Bermudians would now have spending power to support our existing and new businesses around town and throughout the Island. Other real side effects of course could be freeing more street side parking for short-term visitors who support our business and shopping vendors in and around the city, and the potential of massive increases of people entering through the doors of businesses in the greater North-East Hamilton area to exchange money for products will be phenomenal. I would appreciate your response either to my e-mail address — jholdipp@cityhall.bm or to the website: www.cityofhamilton.bm to my attention — Councillor John H. Holdipp III or just a card or note again to my attention at the city hall offices on Church Street. The more responses the greater the value of your viewpoint, along with more vigour to go to bat with in this extraordinary but needed consideration.

JOHN H HOLDIPP III