The LCDC is holding a public forum this Monday (July 7), at 5:30 in the Downtown Library community room. The topic is midtown redevelopment.
Many of the residents of midtown are concerned regarding the workforce housing project the LCDC is sponsoring in the 800 block of 4th Street. The multi-purpose development includes about 30 condos priced up to $300,000 (which is far above what I’d call “workforce housing”).
The LCDC is also planning on removing 19 parking spaces on the street, which concerns me. They plan on an 80 space public parking lot — a pay public parking lot. In my opinion that merely moves the parking problem from downtown northward. Yet somehow the midtown merchants I’ve seen react to this proposal seem delighted over the prospects of fewer places for their customers.
With the combined nature of new housing and fewer parking spaces, what will happen is increased parking on the side streets, 3rd and 5th, which are residential. The fewer parking spaces and limited pay spots also increase parking congestion in the alleyways; people don’t like to pay to park.
Further, the midtown redevelopment plan sees fit to choke down traffic speed on 4th Street. While this makes sense for the merchants, it flies in the face of reality: Lower speeds on a main thoroughfare push busy people onto the other streets, such as 5th and 7th, which are residential and already have problems with speeders.
All of these are legitimate concerns that need to be heard by the LCDC and others promoting midtown development. It’s good to see that the public is going to be involved in this process. Let’s hope our officials respect that process and that this event is not theater. Further, I desire that our government leaders refuse to lay claim that people with legitimate questions are against the final result, in this case workforce housing. That type of obnoxious logic must stop.
I would hope that the citizens can have a say in the process of the development of midtown.I lived in that same area for several years and
could give some input.
I think that the parking lot should front 4th street,allowing easy access to the parking lot.With the condos/strip mall on the backside of the lot.
Comment by kageman — July 2, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Take out free parking and add a paid parking lot? People will not be happy with that one.
Comment by mary — July 2, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
An additional issue is the alley in the 800 block of Fourth. The alley is accessed either through Montana on Fifth Streets. The alley has been a problem for the residents for many years. I fear that the elimination of parking on Fourth will lead to parking in the alley proper which is illegal.
I understand that LCDC has purchased property on Fourth from Roosevelt to the building next to the car dealership with the exception of the parcel owned by Willene Gagnon. Tony Berns told me that LCDC didn’t buy the Ponderosa property from the Loys as it was too expensive – and that was a number of years ago. I doubt that the current purchase price was any cheaper.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — July 2, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
Midtown is a stable established neighborhood and consists of adjacent residential properties to the east and west as well as the commercial area on Fourth Street. Those property owners were not included in the notification list of the first meetings. The meeting held this evening is taking place thanks to a resident’s request.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — July 7, 2008 @ 7:32 am