The newspaper of record announced last Sunday that chaos, their word, chaos was about to ensue as MGM was going to permanently close numerous surface parking lots in the downtown in proximity to two courthouses in order to proceed with the construction of their resort casino. I’m willing to forgive the hyperbole because, to the untrained observer, the situation did appear to portend a perfect storm of parking non-availability with hundreds of spaces in numerous lots eliminated, and snow piled high making on-street parking both difficult and restricted beyond that by an alternating even side odd side parking ban.
The newspaper backed off its chaos claim the following day but at least one local TV news station got into the act with the same story followed up with a Geraldo Rivera like demonstration of just how long it would take to walk from the furthest “Springfield Parking Authority” owned lot to the Hamden County Courthouse: 13 minutes! Oh, the humanity. As it turned out on the following day, Tuesday, I had decided to take advantage of the S.P.A.’s generous offer of “$2 courtesy snow parking” due to the arrival of yet another snowstorm. Arriving at just after 3 o’clock I was able to witness the near chaos myself.
Here are photos from levels three, four, and the newly reopened and available level five at just after 3 o’clock on a workday in a lot located a block from the courthouses.
Upper Level Green:
Lower Level Blue
Upper Level Blue
The now open ramp to the top decks
The two upper decks
And finally, the courthouse from the garage
Chaos