Now, however, the hospital and its development partner, locally based InterPark, are seeking approval for several variances from the city's zoning requirements. The plan exceeds a 500-car limit, a 50-foot height limit, and a 100-foot width limit and also calls for a curb cut on Chestnut Street.

DAG is urging its members to attend the July 16 meeting of the zoning board of adjustment and argue against granting the variances. The DAG position paper calls "the opportunity to design an entire city block 'the chance of a lifetime' in the course of urban development," and cautions against squandering this opportunity.

DAG specifically objects to the "concentration of too many vehicles," interruption in the flow of pedestrian traffic, and undermining efforts already underway to preserve adjacent "outstanding historic buildings" and revitalize Chestnut Street as a retail venue. The zoning board's height provision, DAG also notes, "is there to preserve some sunlight on this important retail street."

Approval of the 50-foot height would cast the block in shade most of the year.

DAG stops short of urging Jefferson to abandon use of this city block, but urges a re-design that would take DAG's concerns into account. "There are less harmful and downright positive design solutions" to Jefferson's parking needs, the paper states.

This represents a second attempt to thwart Jefferson's plans for a parking garage downtown. In April, following protests by the Washington Square West Civic Association, the university hospital abandoned plans for a parking garage at Locust and 11th Street and put the 84-year-old Western Union Building there up for sale.

Instant Insights /

Design Group Opposes Chestnut St. Parking Garage

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