Parking Shortage
The Town of Natick is experiencing a
significant parking shortage, one that has existed for some time.
As early as 1981, studies have been commissioned
that demonstrated a significant shortage of parking in downtown Natick. These studies also have indicated that the
provision of additional parking can lead to the continued redevelopment of
downtown Natick. The demand for businesses and residents to
locate in Natick is strong. The Town must provide additional parking to
help direct this demand to its downtown, however.
A 1997 parking study by HAS Corporation
anticipated a 431 car parking shortage based on the elimination of
then-existing building vacancies. The
development of private parking with this “infill” development would reduce this
431-car shortage by some number of spaces, but a large and persistent parking
shortage was projected.
In 2002, Natick Center Associates contracted
with Abramson & Associates, et al, to conduct a third parking study. This study projected a 325 car parking shortage,
based on the anticipated build-out of downtown Natick. The changing needs of downtown have increased
this shortage number since this study was completed, however, and the possible
conversion of existing occupied space to residential uses could add another 125
or more parking spaces to this demand level.
The 1998 Design Master Plan of Natick Center also indicated that the
greatest challenges for downtown Natick are the lack of
parking, followed by the existence of low-slung buildings downtown. These buildings – which create a “missing
tooth” effect because they exist between larger, architecturally significant
buildings – can not currently be redeveloped because of a lack of parking.
Downtown Natick is experiencing a
significant and long-standing parking shortage.
It is the goal of the proposed development Program to eliminate our
current parking shortage while also providing parking sufficient to support
redevelopment in existing, under-occupied buildings. This will not eliminate our full parking shortage
based on build-out and potential changes in use of existing properties, but it
is projected to eliminate our present shortage while facilitating the
redevelopment of significant existing, unoccupied space.
Provision of additional
parking will also help prevent existing businesses from moving out of downtown Natick. The current
parking shortage has prevented businesses from locating or expanding in our
downtown, but it is also providing a significant impetus for businesses to seek
office space in other parts of Natick, or in other communities. Middlesex Savings Bank – downtown Natick’s largest employer – was recently forced to relocate
a portion of its back-office operation to a non-downtown location because it
was unable to secure parking for its employees.
It is commonly believed that businesses at some point will begin moving
away from downtown Natick because their operations can be conducted in other
locations, either because of the advance of technology or because other sites
provide more convenient parking for customers and employees. Provision of additional parking will help Natick maintain its important businesses downtown, while
also allohortagewing additional development to
continue to diversify, deepen and strengthen the economy of our downtown.