To the editor:

We need more downtown development, and the “826 Vermont” project looks mostly excellent. However, I urge the City Commission to require a smaller parking garage than currently proposed. Our goal should be to build a walkable, people-friendly downtown; the current plan doubles the amount of parking in that part of downtown, and so will only serve to further incentivize driving, pollution and congestion.

Furthermore, the cost to build each parking spot in a multilevel garage is roughly $30,000 — costs that are directly passed along to the everyday person living and working in the area. With a smaller parking garage, the development will have less need of public funding and support and the project can offer a wider (and lower-cost) range of affordable housing.

Ian Crossfield,

Lawrence