Abstract:
A mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure, includes at least two sequential multi-level parking units; a series of one-directional parking access aisles; angled parking around a central atrium and parallel parking at the outer edge of the parking decks; a liner building surrounding the parking units on at least one side of each parking unit; and a multi-use buffer corridor defining an interface between the parking units and the liner building which includes at least one common wall with the buffer corridor, the wall including passages for access to and from the buffer corridor.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of Application Ser. No. 60/432,709, filed Dec. 13, 2002 and the same is incorporated herewith in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an inventive parking structure, the purpose of which is to promote pedestrian activity in, and ease of access to retail, commercial office, residential, transit and other facilities within a liner building about each wall of the parking structure and outward of the mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure. 
   Historically, little variety has existed in the design and structure of multi-story parking facilities as, for example, is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,305 (1993) to Hotta et al, entitled Multi-Story Parking Facility; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,186 (1998) to Kauman et al, entitled Multi-Story Building Complex With Access Between Garage, Building Decks And Each Floor At Same Elevation; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,270 (2001) to Johnston, entitled Multi-Level Building With Ramp. In all cases, such designs park cars perpendicular to and on both sides of two-directional automotive parking access isles that run throughout the parking garage structure. Therein, a multi-story building to which a given multi-level garage relates does not define any particular complemental relationship thereto. In other words, the prior art in the instant area has addressed three primary concerns, i.e., that of the entrance and exit of the largest number of vehicles possible in a given period of time, secondly, the parking of the largest number of vehicles per square foot of parking structure and, finally, schemes for access, typically from a single side of the garage structure to a multi-story building associated therewith. 
   The within invention addresses the above issues but, more importantly, provides for a more ergonomic relationship between the mix-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure, the multi-story, mixed-use liner building with which it is associated, and destinations outward of the mix-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure so as to provide better pedestrian access between the parking structure and the destinations of interest to the individual travelers who use the parking structure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The inventive mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure comprises at least two parking parts or halves, each 90 to 115 feet in width and approximately 200 feet in length. A liner building that is a mixed-use structure, generally of 20 to 90 feet in depth, surrounds the two or more parts of the parking structure on one or more sides to provide conditions that induce large-scale walking behavior. Colors, smells, sounds, shapes, designs and tastes that attract and motivate people to walk forward in spaces that are interesting, useful, safe and comfortable are positioned at a ground level along streets or mixed-mode pedestrian-oriented corridors or on multi-level pedestrian corridors between or along the parts and elsewhere along the perimeter of other structures and coordinated with surrounding structures and needs of pedestrian movement to provide protection from the rain, sun, heat, cold, wind or snow. In a typical application, a pedestrian or mixed-mode corridor will be provided between the parts of the mixed-use liner building structure. In addition, a pedestrian corridor of retail and other uses will bisect the major axis of the garage, between parts or halves, to provide an interior pedestrian corridor (a zaquan) that leads to a center courtyard and, thereafter, through a second half of the parking structure to the far side of the present mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking complex. 
   It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a multi-story building and parking structure having direct geometric and ergonomic relationship between vehicle and pedestrian entrances and exits of a parking structure and floors of like elevation of a surrounding liner building. 
   It is another object to provide a liner building as part of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure to permit residential and business occupants of the building to minimize distances between parked cars and destinations within the building. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide said mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure of the above type to maximize use of natural light therein and increase visibility between parking areas and the destination building. 
   It is a still further object to provide a parking structure of the above type sufficient to enable cars and delivery vehicles to enter the mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking complex without intersection with a vehicular exit. 
   It is a still further object to provide within this parking structure, adequate turning radius, angled parking and parallel parking including crossing opportunities to adjoining parking structures. 
   It is a still further object to provide for reduced vehicular conflict with pedestrian flux, throughout the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure and at the entries and exits of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure, both upwardly, downwardly and outwardly of the structure. 
   It is another object of the invention to enable usage of trees and other foliage materials to grow in the center of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure as well is at the interface of the parking element and the liner building and along the perimeter of the liner building. 
   It is a yet further object to provide a complex of the above type that allows residential and business occupants of the liner building to easily clean or wash adjacent the parking areas within the parking structure. 
   It is a still further object of the invention to enable an enhanced walking environment through all areas of a liner building and parking structure, inclusive of a major axis thereof, the minor axis thereof, and a perimeter thereof. 
   It is another object of to enable usage trees and other foliage material to grow in the center of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure as well is at the interface of the parking element and the liner building and along the perimeter of the liner building 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a sound barrier between the pedestrian-oriented areas within or to one side of the mixed use, pedestrian-oriented parking and liner building complex and the traffic, industrial, airport or other noise generators that can adversely affect a pedestrian-oriented community, or other outside environments. 
   The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings and Detailed Description of the Invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a horizontal top view of a representative deck of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure and is a view taken along Line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a horizontal schematic view showing the use of multiple parking garage-liner building structures of the type shown in  FIG. 1  about a common pedestrian ground space and is a view taken along Line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along Line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along Line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a detail of the upward ramp of a mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure showing a back door entrance to the liner building. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are conceptual views showing potential relationships between pairs of mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure of the type shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A multi-level parking garage of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented structure comprises multiple parts. More particularly, a first part, or entry garage,  200  (see  FIGS. 1  thru  4  of the structure) is used to enter the complex at entrance  213  and to the one-directional upward ramp  222  to second, third or higher floors thereof. A second part, or exit garage,  202  of the structure is used to exit through one-directional downward ramp  219  and to depart the parking structure  216  at exit area  217 . A vehicular cross-over  204 , between portions  200  and  202 , connects the complex, allowing for cars and delivery trucks  203  to move from the entry and upward ramp  222  portion of said part  200 , to the downward ramp  219  and exit area  217  of such structure  202 . The vehicular cross-over  204 , typically at the third floor (see  FIG. 3 ), allows for a second floor mixed-use cross-over  208  to link said portions  200  and  202  and their respective liner buildings  210  and  212  into an overhead structure that protects pedestrians  205  from the sun, snow, heat, cold, wind and rain as they walk from one part to the other of the inventive mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure at either a first level street crossing or mixed-mode corridor  206 , or at said second level mixed-used crossover  208 . 
   As may be noted with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , parking garage portion  216  within liner building  210  provides for parallel parking  227  at the perimeter thereof, this interrupted as necessary by pedestrian corridors, bridges and entrance platforms  242  (see  FIG. 5 ) to provide a place for residents, guests, business employees, and their clients and delivery services to access back doors  240  (see  FIG. 5 ) located at a perimeter  224  which comprises an interface between parking garage  216  and the liner building  210 . Further, angled parking  226  surrounds an opening or atrium  228  at the center of garage  216  of first portion  200  of said structure. As may be noted in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , direction of travel within the garage is one way (see arrows) and allows for sufficient width (up to 18 feet wide) and heights (in a range of 14 to 18 feet high) for automobiles and delivery trucks. Incorporated into the structure may be a central service or loading dock facilities provided at a ground floor  230  (see  FIG. 3 ). With further reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown, outwardly of the first liner building  210 , and second liner building  212 , arcades and awnings, balconies, and roof overhangs  241  which peripherally surround said liner buildings  210 . 
   Further shown in  FIG. 1  is a buffer corridor  232  into which HVAC  233  and other environmental facilities may be placed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , pedestrian ground space  215  is a preferably ground level pedestrian-oriented corridor situated between parts  200  and  202  of the multi-level garage. 
   Shown at  FIG. 2  is the relationship between an entry  213  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and an exit  217 , this inclusive of said vehicular cross-over  204  which connects the respective upward portions and downward portions of the garage. The system thereof is shown in vertical axial cross-sectional view in  FIG. 3 . The ramp structure of the system is shown in  FIG. 4 , which is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through Line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
   The resultant parking structure promotes pedestrian activity by providing a rear or back door access to an adjoining liner building and further provides interior pedestrian access corridors  214 , arcades  241 , covered street crossing or mixed mode corridors  206 , and mixed-use crossovers  208  to provide pedestrian access between and through the components of the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure. 
   The mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure is designed to absorb traffic by efficiently converting automotive trips into pedestrian movements that eliminate traffic congestion and improve intermodel pedestrian access to transit and other transportation modes and to frame public squares and pedestrian or mixed-mode corridors and streets with horizontal components, as discussed in the Ergonomic Hybrid Transit Access Corridor of my U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,727. Within these public spaces (squares and corridors), small transit, parking shuttle and local circulating vehicles help to more efficiently link parking facilities to destinations within a one to four square mile area and with the mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure, collectively, constitute a pedestrian-oriented design and transit access system that will improve intermodel movements within the urban community. 
   The above defines a better method to park automobiles within the shroud of a 20 foot to 90 foot liner building and to incorporate elements of interior design to produce a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented parking structure that positions parking spaces to better provide access, air, light and security to customers, visitors and residents of mixed-use liner buildings. 
   The present invention also provides for said parallel parking  227  along the outer edge of the parking deck  216 , said angled parking  226  at the center, said central air/light well or atrium  228  along a center axis of a generally rectangle-shaped, very narrow, garage facility and, optionally, said air/light well or atrium  228  between the parking and liner building components of the mixed-use pedestrian-oriented parking structure. A one-directional driving corridor or parking access isle (see arrows of  FIG. 1 ) thereby provides an opportunity to build a matched pair or more of garages with a third floor vehicular cross-over  204  to structurally integrate with a second floor mixed-use crossover  208  for retail, restaurant or mixed-use activities and to provide cover for mid-block, at ground pedestrian crossings and mixed-mode corridors  215 . The narrow width of the garage (approximately 90-115 feet) allows for structural columns  218  to be moved to the perimeter of the parking structure or within said air/light well or atrium  228  to thereby avoid shadowing within the parking garage and improve user safety. The narrow characteristic of such garage also makes for an easier application of use of the liner building, given the space needs of retail, office and other commercial or residential uses and the typical dimensions of a city block. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a back door entrance to the liner building. 
   In  FIG. 6  is shown an alternative layout which uses multiple groups of the structure of  FIG. 2 . 
   In  FIG. 7  is shown the manner in which groups of parking garages  200  and  202  and liner buildings described above may be used in considerable numbers to surround specific common space  260  which includes publically significant structures such as a city hall, museums, arenas, stadiums, or other sports complex, cultural centers, and other large public facilities, parks, markets, churches, theatres, educational or healthcare facilities, and libraries or to surround an entire town or entertainment district or the like. 
   It is to be appreciated that liner buildings  210  and  212  all possess sufficient depth and variable widths such that they may easily fit the needs and requirements of small retail, executive offices for start-up businesses and affordable housing. Funding sources from US DOT, HUD and SBA are but a few of the likely participants in several private/public venture possibilities. Back doors, balconies, outdoor staircases, and windows adjacent the parking garage structure  216 , the atrium or air/light well  228  and liner building components provide useful, safe, interesting and comfortable views into and from the parking areas and back door platforms  242  and provide useful spacing of parked cars to allow for ease of access by residents. visitors, customers, and freight delivery services to liner building addresses. These design strategies contrast with automobile-oriented large garages to effectively create habitable space that is safe, comfortable, useful and interesting, and effectively constitute pedestrian-oriented three-dimensional alleys. 
   While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth herewith.