Scott Whittall
We spoke today with Scott Whittall, co-owner of Buli Cafe on Cedar Springs. A while back we reported that Whittall planned to knock down the wall between the coffee shop and the old Zen Salon, and open a piano bar called Shakers. But he says those plans have hit a major snag, and Buli remains open as a coffee shop.
Whittall said the the biggest obstacle to the expansion is city parking requirements. Buli is currently “grandfathered” with a parking requirement of one space for every 200 square feet. However, if they knock down the wall and open a restaurant/bar, the requirement will become one parking space for every 100 square feet.
“This is a hurdle I don’t think we can get over, the parking thing,” Whittall said. “That means we would need 32 spaces, which is almost impossible.” Buli currently has only eight spaces.
Whittall said he hasn’t given up entirely on the plan, but he expressed frustration with the city, which would also require him to combine electric meters at a cost of $20,000 to $30,000.
“I’m trying to figure out how this benefits the city,” he said. “These things are just silly.”
Whittall said if he can’t figure out a way to get around the requirements, he may open a restaurant/bar that’s limited to the space currently occupied by Buli. But he said everything is still up in the air.
“I’m not going to say it’s not going to happen yet, because I have to always hold that glimmer of hope,” Whittall said of the expansion. “If it can be done, we’ll do it.”
I wish somebody could put in a parking garage down there to help alleviate some of the parking headache!!
And where would the parking garage be? How about tearing down that useless Resource Center?
Build one there!
Parking is a huge issue down on the strip and that is why I can’t understand how Caven continues to remove valid street parking spaces. They have blocked spaces in front of Sue Ellens and TMC and now they have removed 4 valid street parking spaces in front of JR’s and Panda’s. Its also frustrating to see the many spaces in the parking lot behind Sue Ellens blocked off and reserved for Sue Ellens Band……..
They can’t get a waiver from the city on the parking restriction? The neighborhood is fairly walkable. The last thing we need in Dallas is more parking!
and funny there are 2 parking lots for lease a whole block away – one of which is the Round Ups old over flow parking lot, that is fenced and gated…there has been a “for lease” sign on the gate for MONTHS…but, is this parking required to be in the “imediate area” which also makes no sense – you can’t call every spot behind the round up theirs alone? and they’re still bigger than this proposed expansion? I guess they’re grandfathered into the “no parking needed” clause.
As far as the parking garage issue – as I was told once before – it would take a ton of money – and I mentioned the EMPTY lot where the apartments @ 4242 Cedar springs used to be would be a good place…even outside of the money – there are requirements or should I say restrictions on building in the area due to Love Fields flight paths or whatever…which makes no sense to me…it doesn’t have to be tall…just wide…and there are other buidlings there…like the one at Cedar Springs / Douglas that have parking garages….it comes down to money…even if they charged $5 a car / more for overnight parking / more for entire weekend parking for event weekends…I figured it would pay for itself in a fairly short amount of time…but I dont know any of these rules / restrictions, so what do I know.
When is Dallas going to realize that the more the enforce the parking law/rule the more they inhibit a car culture. limit the availability of these things and force people to actually walk! I sometimes question if the people in city hall even know how this works? These parking rules for businesses are extremely outdated! This isnt the 80s.
“I’m trying to figure out how this benefits the city,” he said. “These things are just silly.”
We are the city. It benefits us to not have to park our cars and bikes in competitors’ parking lots or in front of a house in the adjacent residential area. It benefits us, the customers and employees, to have a clear and safe sidewalk to get to the front door.
“When is Dallas going to realize that the more the enforce the parking law/rule the more they inhibit a car culture?”
Parking regulations and variances have changed toward walkable neighborhoods for over 20 years. Commercial areas of Oak Cliff, Deep Ellum and Downtown are examples. Yet even in other cities with less parking only 6% of the residents walk or take public transportation farther than one or two blocks instead of driving a car or taking a cab.