New restaurants and residential space are bringing energy and opportunity to the Depot Town neighborhood in Ypsilanti. To provide sufficient parking for the growing area, Ypsilanti engaged Fishbeck to study the feasibility of a parking structure at two city-owned sites. The project scope included Phase I environmental assessment, boundary and topographical survey, geotechnical borings and preliminary recommendations, parking structure layouts, cost estimates, review of funding options, massing renderings, a traffic study, and a formal presentation of results. In addition to meeting the projected parking deficit, the parking structures were envisioned to interface with a potential future passenger train service.
Each site presented unique challenges. The first site was preferred due to its proximity and convenience to the popular destinations but was sandwiched between a curved roadway alignment and an existing park; and contained relatively poor soils and environmental contamination. The second site was smaller, irregularly shaped, and constrained by property line setback requirements. But by proposing a combination of surface parking at the first site in combination with the structured parking at the second, the resulting structure was kept to a minimal height complying with zoning requirements and was surprisingly efficient.
The project embodied the “All in One” Fishbeck motto engaging staff across multiple divisions and departments to complete the study. This capability streamlined coordination efforts and resulted in a superior final product.
