OH: Downtown Stakeholders See the Need For More Parking

If you build it, they will come. Maybe.

That's how some downtown advocates and business owners are viewing the city's possible purchase of land along North Main Street for parking space.

City Council is considering buying property at 42 N. Main St. for $20,000 and potentially leasing a lot next to it owned by Wausau Paper. Those lots would be converted into downtown parking and include a park-and-ride location.

Nancy Griffith, owner of Mockingbirds, a cafe inside the Pendleton Art Center at Central Avenue and Broad Street, said she knows more parking might be needed in the future if downtown continues to develop, but she's a bit hesitant about the need right now.

"I'm all about stuff not being empty," Griffith said. "I'd like to say, yes, that we're busy enough to utilize it (additional parking), but at this point, I'm not certain. It could in theory bring people that wouldn't normally be headed this way."

Denise Hamet, the city's economic development director, said the marketing and the potential sale of the Manchester Inn and growth of Cincinnati State Middletown and other downtown businesses and facilities "are already creating more demand for parking.

"We think this only will increase in the future, so we're really only trying to plan ahead," she said.

Hamet said the lot's owner Elizabeth Ligon was closing the car wash business there and the city saw an opportunity to purchase the land and avoid another vacant structure downtown.

"It's less opportunity for crime, it's an opportunity to improve the community's image, and also at the same time Wausau Paper approached us about parking," she said.

The largest single parking area for downtown is north of Central Avenue behind the buildings that stretch from Cincinnati State Middletown to the TV Middletown building. That lot is typically half to three-fourths filled, primarily with Cincinnati State Middletown students, but there's often available street parking along Central or nearby side streets.

Even though downtown parking is not an issue now, Jay and Linda Moorman, owners of BeauVerre at the Square, see the need.

"We'll be excited when we have a parking problem downtown," said Linda Moorman.

Hamet said while the city would like to expand parking, the park-and-ride concept is not concrete. She said the Butler Regional Transit System, which will manage the Middletown Transit System later this year, is looking to acquire a grant to pay for 80 percent of the cost to create the park and ride and demolish the existing building on the property. At this point, she said it's uncertain how many spots could be created.

"We thought this was a really good opportunity to leverage city resources," Hamet said.

City staff had been discussing potentially demolishing some city-owned buildings for additional downtown parking, but Doug Adkins, Middletown Community Revitalization director, said other than a few long-term ideas, nothing has been discussed, planned or budgeted at this time.

Deborah Rumford, co-owner of Rumford Productions and The Music Club downtown, said there is quite a bit of downtown parking, but agrees with Hamet that it's likely not enough to satisfy the growth that's expected downtown.

"This lot back here is full every day," said Rumford, who's business is next to Cincinnati State Middletown. "They're only going to continue to grow. And if they put an RTA stop, it's greater transportation options for the students."

And with a park and ride, Rumford said people's perceptions of a struggling downtown may be changed.

"There are a lot of people who are hesitant to come downtown because they don't know what's here," she said. "If they saw the growth, that would get more people excited. Maybe they'll come down an hour early (before class or going to work) and catch lunch or shop."

Copyright 2013 - Middletown Journal, Ohio