 
Expatriot
Member
Username: Expatriot
Post Number: 25
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 9:19 pm: |    |
On my last visit to Detroit I was amazed to see all the construction underway downtown. Unfortunately most of it seemed to be in the form of massive parking garages. It made me curious as to what is the tallest parking structure in the city. How long does it take to drive up to the roof level? Are there traffic jams at the exits during rush hour? |
Detroitrise
Member
Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 1431
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 9:24 pm: | |
Greektown is probably the TALLEST (but becoming the 2nd tallest if and when the Griswold is constructed for B/C). I'm not sure if there are huge traffic jams coming out of the garages. Most of the companies with big garages only have about 4,000 or less employees who work different shifts.
You must remember, Detroit is no longer a Chicago. You don't get too many traffic jams with only 80,000 workers total.
(Message edited by detroitrise on January 25, 2008) |
E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1534
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 1:59 pm: | |
The biggest garages belong to the casinos. There are only traffic jams getting in or out of them during big events, such as the Freedom Festival. Driving to the top can take a minute or two. |
Charlottepaul
Member
Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 2269
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 3:41 pm: | |
Some of the decks east of the Ren Cen are really pretty large. Expatriot, there are ways to reduce traffic jams in decks. Aside from having more than one exit, often the large decks can be a scissor setup with a crossover halfway down the length of the ramp (it's kind of hard to describe in text), but you can get up and down the deck twice as fast. |
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 696
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 3:50 pm: | |
with no ticket booth, the two casino garages i've checked out don't really have backups because there is no required stop! |
Digitalvision
Member
Username: Digitalvision
Post Number: 523
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 3:55 pm: | |
I never run into traffic jams - I don't work at a big company as an employee but as a contractor many times will park in their garages (or just for pleasure trips). Usually, it's quicker to drive out than it took to walk to my car in the garage.
Personally, I love the new garages going up. Some of them have done a really good job on architecture, as well as providing retail and office opportunities - much, much better than surface lots as far as space usage, looks, and makes downtown look more impressive.
The one drawback about garages is that so many (especially in this region) have so little experience with them that they're intimidating - especially to women. In that vein, major kudos to Greektown for making sure their garage is very, very well lit and that mitigates those concerns to a large degree. |