Promenade project brings downtown parking issue to the forefront
The city officially broke ground Wednesday evening for the pedestrian-friendly East Third Street Promenade project. And with the beginning of the renovations to the street, the need for more downtown parking has become even more evident.
The project's first phase, consisting of underground water and sewer upgrades, will end in July. The project's second phase, removing overhead power utility lines and putting them underground, will be finished in March of 2009. The project's third and final phase, however, will eliminate most of the 58 parking spaces now available on the street.
In about a year's time, the project could reduce the parking on the street to 19 spaces, thus affecting where customers who patronize the handful of businesses on the street will park.
City needs to find solutions to downtown parking shortage
In 2006, the Morgan Hill City Council approved the plan to transform 900-foot long East Third Street into a pedestrian promenade with wide sidewalks, decorative street furniture, public art, pedestrian lighting, greenery and a mid-block roundabout.
That same year the Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded a $1.7 million grant to the city for the promenade which will offset almost half of the expected $4 to $5 million cost, that is being paid for with Redevelopment Agency funds.
After hearing from concerned downtown patrons during the past two community meetings to discuss the plans it's obvious the need for downtown parking is critical.
The city needs a downtown parking garage. It's a perfect use of RDA funds in the RDA area. It would be ideal if the structure had retail on the ground level with parking above or underground, thus keeping the street level attractive and interesting.
Downtown parking is a big necessity for a healthy and vibrant core
We're happy to hear that the city is actively looking for properties in the downtown that could become parking lots. We hope the city will communicate their parking solutions to the East Third Street business owners soon because in less than one year, the spring of 2009, most of the street parking near them will be gone.
The business owners understandably want parking close to their store fronts. People want the convenience of parking close to their destination, and if they can't find a place to park, they'll simply find another destination.
The city has a responsibility to provide parking in the downtown area. And it's imperative the city build the parking structure in the downtown - close to merchants and restaurants - to continue to make the town's core attractive and prevent residents from shopping elsewhere. We've said it before and we'll say it again. We're pleased to see work begin on East Third Street because it's an integral part of our downtown core. We just want the city to understand that adjacent parking is an integral part as well.
Act now
Contact the Morgan Hill City Council at 779-7271 or e-mail them by accessing www.morganhill.ca.gov.
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