Businesses to get say in new parking lot's use
The Norman Transcript
Transcript Staff Writer
Progress is being made toward the city's new downtown parking lot, with demolition started and plans being made for the best ways to use it.
The Norman City Council received an update on progress of the 86-space lot on the south side of Gray Street between Peters Avenue and Crawford Avenue at its pre-meeting conference Tuesday.
Midwest Wrecking is handling demolition on the site and is currently doing hand demolition adjacent to the buildings that will stay in place.
Public Works Director Jimmy Berry detailed several options for its use, from making it free to various pay options.
A survey by the Leadership Norman 2006 class showed downtown patrons would like the lot to be free in the evenings.
But other questions remain to be answered.
"Are we going to allow employee parking?" Berry asked. "How much is the rate going to be?"
Some of the options included pay and display, pay for space, a smart card, parking meters and fixed time parking, such as that on Main Street. There is a large range of cost to install each system and amount of city oversight that would be required.
Councilmembers differed on the best ways to use the lot. But one thing they agreed on was the downtown merchants should be deeply involved in determining how the lot can best benefit the area.
"I disagree about gates," said Chuck Thompson, Republic Bank president and former Downtowners president. "I think that's exactly how the city should look at it."
Thompson said he believed the lot should be a paid lot, 24 hours a day and could yield positive revenue for the city.
The council's planning committee, chaired by Ward 4 councilmember Cindy Rosenthal, has been discussing potential uses for the lot since it was purchased. Rosenthal was absent at Tuesday's conference meeting.
The executive committee of the Norman Downtowners Association will meet with the council planning committee at its July 20 meeting.
The city paid $896,000 for the property, purchased from the Core Norman Land Trust, Ivan Edsel Goodman Revocable Trust and Shelter Investments LLC.
The lot is expected to alleviate the need for some downtown employees to park on Main Street, taking spaces from potential customers.
Berry said he hopes the brick and mortar portion of the parking lot can be finished by football season.
The Leadership Norman class has been raising funds to erect the Heart of Norman murals, three 15-by-45-foot historically themed murals that will be a creative backdrop for the lot.
Muralist Dr. Bob Palmer has been chosen for the project.
Carol Cole 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com
The Norman Transcript
Transcript Staff Writer
Progress is being made toward the city's new downtown parking lot, with demolition started and plans being made for the best ways to use it.
The Norman City Council received an update on progress of the 86-space lot on the south side of Gray Street between Peters Avenue and Crawford Avenue at its pre-meeting conference Tuesday.
Midwest Wrecking is handling demolition on the site and is currently doing hand demolition adjacent to the buildings that will stay in place.
Public Works Director Jimmy Berry detailed several options for its use, from making it free to various pay options.
A survey by the Leadership Norman 2006 class showed downtown patrons would like the lot to be free in the evenings.
But other questions remain to be answered.
"Are we going to allow employee parking?" Berry asked. "How much is the rate going to be?"
Some of the options included pay and display, pay for space, a smart card, parking meters and fixed time parking, such as that on Main Street. There is a large range of cost to install each system and amount of city oversight that would be required.
Councilmembers differed on the best ways to use the lot. But one thing they agreed on was the downtown merchants should be deeply involved in determining how the lot can best benefit the area.
"I disagree about gates," said Chuck Thompson, Republic Bank president and former Downtowners president. "I think that's exactly how the city should look at it."
Thompson said he believed the lot should be a paid lot, 24 hours a day and could yield positive revenue for the city.
The council's planning committee, chaired by Ward 4 councilmember Cindy Rosenthal, has been discussing potential uses for the lot since it was purchased. Rosenthal was absent at Tuesday's conference meeting.
The executive committee of the Norman Downtowners Association will meet with the council planning committee at its July 20 meeting.
The city paid $896,000 for the property, purchased from the Core Norman Land Trust, Ivan Edsel Goodman Revocable Trust and Shelter Investments LLC.
The lot is expected to alleviate the need for some downtown employees to park on Main Street, taking spaces from potential customers.
Berry said he hopes the brick and mortar portion of the parking lot can be finished by football season.
The Leadership Norman class has been raising funds to erect the Heart of Norman murals, three 15-by-45-foot historically themed murals that will be a creative backdrop for the lot.
Muralist Dr. Bob Palmer has been chosen for the project.
Carol Cole 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com