Monday, December 5, 2011
Arkansas Politics Building Authority behind Capitol tree removal
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Update on an item here Sunday in which the MoveArkansas blog was quoted as complaining about tree removal and walkway removal on a parking lot north and west of the Big MAC building on the Capitol grounds.
Contrary to an impression I left elsewhere, this project was entirely the work of the Arkansas Building Authority, not the secretary of state’s office, whose Capitol grounds supervision doesn’t include parking lots related to various agency buildings.
Anne Laidlaw, director of the Building Authority, said the agency had only recently had the necessary money to complete work long needed on the Big MAC lot, which she said was potholed, poorly lit and in need of better striping for pedestrian use. She said the trees that were removed were a hazard because of falling limbs and many had impacted roots. "It was just a matter of time before we had a big damage claim," she said. She said foresters reviewed the tree removal plan.
She said some additional parking spaces will be created by this work and separate modification of a lot for the Career Services building on the west end of the mall, but the number will be relatively small. The $400,000 work will mostly go to overlay, better striping (both for cars and pedestriasn), better lighting and more security cameras. She said the secretary of state’s office oversees drives and a parking committee that office controls will meet this week on closing a dangerous one-way drive exiting the Career Services parking lot.
Laidlaw commented, however: “We are woefully deficient in parking. We’ve desperately needed more parking for a long time.”
There's a great deal of open parking space even farther west on the Capitol grounds. Some employees make use of those spaces and shuttle bus services are operated during legislative sessions some some other times. For now, though, plans for Capitol access are still more about cars than buses or bikes or pedestrians.
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
God just spoke to me and said to relay that building up in downtown spaces is better than building out. I'll let you all know if she tells me anything else.
like
dislike
What big damage claim? The last time I had a tree limb hit my vehicle, MY insurance paid, above my deductible anyway. And no, it wasn't my limb. So do car insurance folks now do what health insurance folks do -- see if they can stick your mother's homeowner policy for a broken something or other?
One of the lamest rationalizations I've ever read. I wouldn't be suprised if decisions makers had covered parking spots.
Nothing, not even a raised sidewalk, protects a pedestrian better than paint markings.
More by Author
-
'Girls Gone Wild' no joking matter; Pryor office calls FBI
Now that Republicans have successfully promoted the "Girls Gone Wild" internship hoax with Sen. Mark Pryor onto the Drudge Report, the Pryor office has gone beyond calling the thing a sham dirty trick and called in the FBI.
- Apr 25, 2012
-
BP settles spill case
Details emerging of BP's settlement of the Gulf oil disaster case. Almost $8 billion to be paid.
- Mar 3, 2012
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Judge orders new trial in $1 million dollar lottery ticket dispute
Proves the adage that nothing is free, nothing is simple.
- on May 25, 2012
-
Re: Surgeon general strikes deal on disturbance charges
This whole mess stinks.
- on May 25, 2012
-
Re: Yarnell's scooping again; reveals flavor list
I couldn't agree more! But the flavor I love the most is Death by Chocolate!…
- on May 25, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
Police close the Occupy Little Rock camp, perhaps the last Occupy encampment on public land.
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
