As a resident of the Piedmont Civic Center neighborhood for more than 41 years, I have watched many proposals come and go. Along with numerous neighbors and residents, I have spent decades advocating for the preservation of the small-town character, walkability, and safety of central Piedmont. While we have not always agreed on every issue, I believe our collective efforts have helped maintain what makes this area special.
Unfortunately, I believe the Bonita Avenue parking reconfiguration is a mistake.
What troubles me most is not the addition of parking spaces themselves, but the apparent lack of consideration given to the broader public safety implications. The 300 block of Bonita is not an isolated residential street. It serves as a critical corridor for Havens Elementary School, Piedmont schools including Piedmont Middle and High Schools, City Hall, the Fire Department, the Community Pool, recreation facilities, and surrounding neighborhoods. It is also an important access and evacuation route during emergencies.
The City’s focus has been on creating 17 additional parking spaces. Yet many residents who live and travel this corridor daily continue to ask a simple question: At what cost?
For decades, I have witnessed school drop-offs and pick-ups, community events, construction activity, emergency vehicle traffic, and the daily challenges of moving safely through this area. Experience has taught me that what appears workable on an engineering drawing does not always perform well under real-world conditions.
I remain unconvinced that increasing parking density on this already constrained block improves safety, traffic flow, or emergency access. In fact, I fear it may do the opposite. I sincerely hope I am wrong! If the project functions exactly as intended, I will be the first to acknowledge it. However, if congestion increases, visibility is reduced, or emergency access becomes more difficult, I hope the City will be willing to revisit the configuration and make necessary adjustments.
Good planning is not measured solely by the number of parking spaces created. It is measured by how well it protects the safety, character, and resilience of the community it serves.
After 41 years living in the center of Piedmont, I remain convinced that preserving safe and efficient access through our civic center should take precedence over creating additional parking spaces.