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Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 7110
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:01 pm: | 
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From
http://www.sopacnow.org/p-news.php
NEWS RELEASE
South Orange Performing Arts Center Selects Clearview Cinemas to Operate 5-Screen Cineplex
South Orange, NJ, August 9, 2005- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) has selected Clearview Cinemas to operate the movie theatre portion of the SOPAC complex in the Village. The facility, now under construction in downtown South Orange, is adjacent to South Orange Avenue and Sloan Street, behind the NJ Transit station. The 5-screen Cineplex is expected to open in August 2006.
"We are thrilled to welcome such a well-respected partner to our facility," said Jessica Finkelberg, Executive Director of SOPAC. "Clearview's reputation in the industry and commitment to family and independent films complements SOPAC's mission to be the preferred destination for innovative, artistic and cultural experiences. Our intimate size will further enhance our patron’s experience, whether they are seeing a film or attending a concert. This is a great match.”
“Our partnership with SOPAC expands Clearview Cinemas’ presence in New Jersey and, specifically, in Essex County. We think the community of South Orange deserves a state-of-the-art facility and we look forward to bringing quality movies to the neighborhood for many years to come,” said Morten Gotterup, senior vice president and general manager for Clearview Cinemas.
The 14,000 square foot Cineplex will be a modern, upscale movie destination with 5 screens and 600 seats total, located on two levels. Each cinema will be equipped with the latest digital sound technologies, high-quality projection, automated ticketing machines, and a full service concession stand. Free parking will be available on evenings and weekends in the adjacent NJT 265-car parking lot. Clearview will use the destination to showcase the best in commercial, art and independent films.
In addition to housing the Cineplex, the 34,000 square-foot Arts Center will feature a 415-seat live performance space that will showcase a wide variety of programming, along with a community space available for multiple uses, including meetings and private events. The performance space is scheduled to open in Fall 2006.
SOPAC is an independent non-profit corporation managed by a 20-person Board of Governors. More information about SOPAC is available at www.sopacnow.org.
A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation since 1998, Clearview Cinemas was formed in 1994 and currently operates 53 movie theatres with 265 screens in the New York Metropolitan area, including the famous Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. New Jersey locations include theaters in Millburn and Montclair. Clearview also operates theatres in Westchester, Rockland County, Long Island and Pennsylvania. More information on Clearview can be found at www.clearviewcinemas.com.
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Montrose13
Citizen
Username: Montrose13
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:11 pm: |
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okay. This is good news. Clearview operates theaters in Millburn and Montclair. Maybe there is hope for sopac after all. Clearview is clearly better than whoever operates the Maplewood Theater--which is a total dump. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1152
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:15 pm: |
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Very good news. A solid company with a solid reputation. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1153
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:17 pm: |
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...and, unfortunately for the anti-SOPAC crowd, one less thing to harp over. "And they don't even have anyone to operate the theater! Theaters don't make any money! No one goes to the movies! No one will want to operate the theater! My feet hurt!" |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 2669
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:25 pm: |
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I thought this was actually old news, based on posts here online. Glad to hear it is official, although I thought 5 screens and 600 seats seemed awfully small. (10 rows of 12 seats per theatre???)
Doing a quick search (http://cinematreasures.org), I see that:
Clearview in Montclair is 4 screens ~ 975 seats
Claridge in Montclair is 6 screens ~ 1300 seats
Maplewood Theatre is 6 screens ~ 1412 seats (?)
By the way, did anyone know that there used to be a Cameo Theatre in South Orange at
115-119 South Orange Avenue.
Now the home of Neelam's Indian Restaurant and S & S Beauty Supply.
Listed in the 1951 FDY as having 937 seats.
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 2090
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:54 pm: |
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You beat me to it MHD. At 600 seats total, that's only a little over 100 seats per theater. Seems small to me as well. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9140
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 6:04 pm: |
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Not so fast folks. We of the progressive community here are going to have to look into Clearview's labor and governmental relations before we will agree to have a capitalistic, money grubbing corporation running a municipal facility. I also note that Clearview is planning on showing art movies, almost by definition that means dirty movies. I don't think we forward looking Americans will be able to support this operator unless they agree to screen only G and PG movies.
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Parkingsux
Citizen
Username: Parkingsux
Post Number: 80
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 6:47 pm: |
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Parking? |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 905
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 7:08 pm: |
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Rarely a problem evenings and weekends in the transit lot. Not expecting huge weekday crowds.
Happy to hear Clearview will be involved. |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 67
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 7:15 pm: |
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MHD: I agree ... that is why I think the individual theaters should be sized differently -with one of the theaters being somewhat larger than the others to accomodate a blockbuster type movie. The smaller theaters on the other hand would be better suited for indies. |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4597
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 7:36 pm: |
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This is good news. I hope the movie selection is similar to their theater in Montclair, the Clairidge. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 76
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 9:02 pm: |
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Only PG & G movies? It'll be out of business in a month. Art doesn't automatically mean "dirty", BTW define dirty. Whatever you think it is I asure you SO won't have a porn theatre any time soon. Please don't tell me you consider an r rated movie "dirty" |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4600
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 9:35 pm: |
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Ace - Pay no mind to Mr. Bobk's flights of fancy. He is MOL's premiere performance artiste.
Soon to appear at a SOPAC near you ... |
extuscan
Citizen
Username: Extuscan
Post Number: 494
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:13 pm: |
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As the person who has submitted most of the NJ and NH theaters to cinematreasures.com, I assure you, the Maplewood no longer has 1482 seats. It once sat 1600! But it probably down to about 800. |
The Man
Citizen
Username: Bumboklaat
Post Number: 16
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:24 pm: |
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Clearview is a solid choice and hopefully the theater will prosper. My inquiries are - Who decides what movies get shown there? & Will small capacity theaters get the summer blockbusters like Star Wars, Batman, and March of the Penguins?
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 1398
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:39 pm: |
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Ace, G and PG movies, on average, make a ton more money than R movies. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1360
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:50 pm: |
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Clearview in Montclair showed that X rated movie that was out about a year or two ago -- the french brother/sister with american friend. Don't recall the name. But I don't recall any particular uproar over it either.
BTW -- this is *old* news, announced quite a while back. Sounds like a typical SO thing -- there was likely a verbal agreement behind the scenes, then this new director comes in and had to make her mark.
/p |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 131
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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I wonder if we will learn the particulars of the financial and other arrangements between Clearview and the village, since I believe SOPAC is a village owned property. Would this be available under FOI? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1361
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 10:54 pm: |
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jay -- oh come on -- in might put SOPAC at a disadvantage vs other theaters to release any details.  (I figure they used this line once, we're likely to hear it again! -- pete |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1155
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 8:37 am: |
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Pete:
Very recently, people were griping on here that SOPAC "hadn't even found anyone to run the theater." So if it was known to some people, it certainly wasn't known by everyone. Regardless, you can't have it both ways -- people bitch when there's no information put out, and then they complain when a press release comes out that someone is "trying to make her mark." |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9145
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 8:43 am: |
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Nohero, yah had to destroy my fun and after I got one on the hook at that!!!  |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1363
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:16 am: |
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Cmonty --
my sarcastic second note -- was because a few weeks ago when there were questions about the SOPAC budget, the response was that to provide details would put them at a competitive disadvantage. (HA!).
In any case, it would be nice to know about what the expected range of income will be from this arrangement!
Pete |
Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 2230
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:23 am: |
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I understood from prior BoT meetings that they have contracted with Clearview to receive $180K per year. How that offsets the total operating/debt service budget for SOPAC is unclear. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2160
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:55 am: |
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Not all five of the theaters are the same size. The two on the first floor are larger (three are upstairs). Number of seats are still approx since Clearview will have to decide on the size of the seats, etc. The design I saw showed closer to 700 total seats in the movie theaters.
Clearview will be picking the movies, but I do not think they can show any "X" rated movies.
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Stevie
Citizen
Username: Rodman
Post Number: 9
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 3:11 pm: |
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I kind of suspected it would be Clearview running the theatre. That is a good thing. They tend to book high quality films. As far as X rated films are concerned, they basically don't exist any more. Movie companies that that have films that would otherwise get an X rating generally release them unrated since a lot of newspapers won't advertise X rated films. I don't remember the last time I saw a film rated X. I believe Clearview does show unrated films. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 9038
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 3:42 pm: |
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And I don't think anyone wants to see an X-rated film in a theater, now that you can bring them home.
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red_alert
Citizen
Username: Red_alert
Post Number: 157
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 5:18 pm: |
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Pizza, you forgot the popcorn sales. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 751
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 5:21 pm: |
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Woo hoo! Clearview!  When do they open?  |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 70
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 8:15 pm: |
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Thanks for the info Mark. It's good to hear that there will be different sized theaters within. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 1404
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 9:23 am: |
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Actually, I think the X-rating has gone away, replaced by NC-17. But as Stevie and Tom point out, very few movies are released with this rating.
I really don't think we need to worry about Clearview showing porn or snuff films at SPOAC... |
mary brenner
Citizen
Username: Marybrenner
Post Number: 42
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:04 am: |
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I have some questions for anyone who would like to answer. Do we really need 600 seats of movie theater in our town? If the movie runs several times a day does that mean potentially we could have thousands of people using the town. Is the town prepared for the level of abuse it will take from garbage alone? On Saturday I take my son to coldstone and the garbage buildup is huge and usually all over the street. What is the benefit for the south orange residents? |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 106
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:25 am: |
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What is the benefit for the south orange residents?
Um, having a movie theater and a performance stage in town?
Isn't the whole idea of redevelopment to get people to use the town? |
mary brenner
Citizen
Username: Marybrenner
Post Number: 44
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:29 am: |
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You do not need to be nasty I was asking questions? I personally can not see how our town can handle this amount of people. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 912
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:30 am: |
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Um, the benefit for South Orange residents is having nice new movie theaters in our town, so that we can spend our entertainment dollars here, and eat in our local restarants before or after the show.
G-d forbid anyone from out of town spends money on our local businesses. Would that really bother you so much?
If trash collection isn't being done right, talk to the businesses and Public works about it, but please don't suggest it as a reason to avoid any development of businesses that are actually worth having in town. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 1409
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:30 am: |
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Plus all the businesses that will gain new customers when all those movie-goers finish (or come to eat before the movies.
Mary, would you rather we lived insulated from the rest of the world? Our town would wither and die if the only people that used the businesses in town were from South Orange. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 9049
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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Let's all not pile up on Mary. She just forgot that inter-town commerce is a good thing for everyone.
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mary brenner
Citizen
Username: Marybrenner
Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 10:50 am: |
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I use our town all the time. With the planning that the town puts into everything else they do I seriously question if they thought through all that will be needed for this to work. If you go to essex green to see a movie you have hundreds of parking spots. Where will these people park? |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 914
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 11:05 am: |
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Same place I park when I go to Bunny's. In the many empty spaces in the commuter lot after 6:30 PM or so. If that's full, in the many empty spaces in the lot over by the rescue squad after 6:30 PM or so. We might need a few signs helping direct out of towners to the best parking, but it is there during prime movie-going times.
With 600 seats, you won't average 600 patrons...you might occasionally peak at that at 8 PM on a Friday or Saturday night. And of course, these 600 patrons aren't going to come in 600 cars... |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1163
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 11:42 am: |
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I truly don't get it. I have never, ever, ever had trouble parking in Maplewood or South Orange, even on Friday or Saturday nights. And we go to the Maplewood theater regularly. (The Maplewood theater, by the way, has approximately 4 parking spaces.)
I should clarify: By "haven't had trouble," I don't mean I wheel into a spot without ever having to circle the block. But I do mean it's never been much of a hassle.
What kind of parking trouble is everyone having? Have you looked at the maps of all the parking lots? Both towns have tons of parking spaces... Is it just that you're not willing to walk a block or two?
I think part of the problem is that everyone is assuming that every patron of the theater will have to park right in front of the theater. Which isn't the case. (Just like everyone who visits the Maplewood theater doesn't park right in front of the Maplewood theater. I rarely do.) |
Stevie
Citizen
Username: Rodman
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 11:56 am: |
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My main concern is not the movie theatre but the perfoming arts center. Based on information I have (and it is far from complete) I don't think there is a good plan for the use of the space in terms of what types of perfomances will be booked or what local performing groups will be given access. It is not easy (or cheap) to sell tickets for live performances and I would hate to see the space underutilized or fail to sell tickets because that could be a big financial drain especially if they plan on producing their own productions.These types of spaces are never self sustaining and rely on outside funding and contributions. Hopefully the movie theatre will pay for a good chunk of the operating costs. I wish someone could assure me that a plan is in place. Thanks for the correction Rastro, the rating is now NC-17 but is rarely used.grout |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 134
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 12:11 pm: |
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With West Orange having OSPAC and South Orange having SOPAC, I wonder if SOPAC is the best name for the place. Lends itself to some confusion, doesn't it? |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 916
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 2:16 pm: |
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Stevie,
I've got no problem with the arts center running an operating deficit (most do), as long as it has a plan to balance the overall budget via grants, sponsorships, patron donations and the like. That is what arts centers do.
I'm eager to her more from the director. She has been "on the ground" since November, and we've had a professional fundraiser on payroll for much longer than that. I believe that there is a presentation to the BOT planned for either the next meeting or the one after that, and am hoping to finally hear details as concrete as the structure now rising.
I personally am eager to be a patron and even a donor (but not until they get organized enough to ask me...). |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 71
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 2:17 pm: |
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I agree with cmonty. Every once in awhile I'll have to circle around SO to find a spot - but there is always one somewhere. I lived in Montclair prior to our move to SO - that's a real parking problem. Nearly impossible to find a spot. |
Stevie
Citizen
Username: Rodman
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 3:42 pm: |
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Susan, I would also be happy to be involved if I'm asked. I don't have the funds to be a patron but I do have expertise that might be helpful. I'd love to see it work.I don't have any objection to running at a deficit if there's a plan to raise the funds and a plan on utilization of the space. |
Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 2234
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 4:42 pm: |
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Agreed. And please share the business plan for public consumption. Thanks |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 918
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 5:03 pm: |
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A small-scale patron in my case...I'll give $50 or $100 extra a year, in return for priority ticket purchasing and thanks. I think that is how it ususally works. I'll also consider being a volunteer once things are up and running. |
argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 631
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 6:03 pm: |
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Monty, Josh -- I said the same thing about parking (in both towns) in the "Maplewood vs SO" thread. I don't get it. What is the big deal?
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 9077
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 6:09 pm: |
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1. People feel, subconsciously, that when crossing property lines from their parking spots to their destinations, this is a difficult distance to span, even when a greater distance within the same property, i.e. across a huge mall parking lot is perceived as reasonable.
2. People like to predict their travel times, including the time it takes to find a parking spot. The time to find a spot in town has a greater standard deviation than in mall parking lots. This leads to a preception that hunting for a spot takes a long time.
3. People feel duly accomodated when the owners of their destinations provide parking directly, rather than leaving it to chance.
I have other theories for why people complain bitterly about this very small problem, but I've forgotten them for the moment. Please add your own here.
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