By Jim Newell
Review Editor
Parking is the problem on everyone’s minds in downtown Lake Orion lately – as are the possibilities of resolving the problem.
To that end, the Downtown Development Authority has entered into an agreement to purchase two lots from the Lake Orion United Methodist Church.
The DDA Board of Directors voted 6-0 on May 14 to purchase the lots for $275,000, said DDA Executive Director Molly LaLone and Village Manager Joe Young.
There would also be an additional $5,000 in closing costs, according to village project estimate documents.
The lots are on S. Slater Street – lots 52/54 and 104 – and have a combined 13,764 square feet (0.316 acres), according to village council documents.
Once constructed, the lots would create 42 spaces; at a cost of approximately $11,905 per parking spot.
The deal is contingent on the DDA being able to acquire the necessary easements to build a walkway from Slater Street to Anderson Street between the Orion Music Studio and the fire department, and on shared-use agreements with the church’s two existing lots, Young said.
As of Lake Orion Review press time the deal was not finalized.
The new lot would be likely be designated for employees of downtown businesses only, not for church employees and congregates, or for general public parking, Young and LaLone said.
The village council at its May 13 meeting extended an offer to loan the DDA $500,000 to purchase the lots to construct the parking lot and walkway and install signage and landscaping. The village would loan the money to the DDA at two-and-a-half percent interest over six years, said Young.
The money would come from the water and sewer fund, he said.
The DDA is working to get easements from Orion Music Studio and the fire department to construct a walkway from Slater Street to Anderson Street, north of the fire station, LaLone said.
“We’re in discussion with Nick Schillace, who is the owner of Orion Music Studio. He has given us a verbal agreement,” LaLone said. “The purpose of the parking lot will be to provide employee parking.”
By moving employees of downtown businesses from parking spots on downtown streets and lots, the DDA hopes to open up more spots closer to those businesses for customers.
The Methodist Church had listed the two lots at $300,000. The DDA offered $250,000, and the church countered with $275,000 as the “final offer,” LaLone said, adding, “We want to get shared use agreements for the other two lots the church owns. There was quite a bit of discussion and deliberation about it.”
According to parking lot cost estimates from the village, the total site demo, construction, lighting and landscaping costs for the parking lots is expected to be a little more than $196,000, or about $471,000 total.
LaLone reiterated that the DDA is not pursuing the purchase to subsidize church employee and patron parking.
“We want to make sure church employees know this is for downtown employees and not parking for them, and we will work with church officials on how best to inform them,” she said.
The fire department has some concerns about reducing the frequency of people crossing in front of the fire station, in case of emergency, LaLone said.
“We hope to have that parking lot constructed by the end of the third quarter, just in time for holiday shopping,” LaLone said. “The DDA board had felt very responsible about providing additional parking, especially when we need to accommodate the additional parking needs once the businesses under construction open. There’s a bit of excitement happening in downtown.”
Restaurants Anita’s Kitchen and Oat Soda are scheduled to open this summer and the space owned by Diya Zaraga at 102 S. Broadway St. could house a restaurant. None of those establishments have dedicated parking.
The apartments and retail space at 120 S. Broadway St., commonly known as the four-story development, the downtown’s only four-story building, will have approximately 24 apartments on the upper three levels.
The lower level has retail and restaurant space: Whiskey Tom’s, Simply Marcella’s and space for other retailers or offices. That site does have dedicated parking for residents, but restaurant and retail customers will have to find their own parking, just like customers at other downtown businesses.
Which leave the village in the quandary of providing more parking as the downtown continues to grow without the adequate land to expand parking.
“The issues of the downtown are usually addressed by the DDA. It’s difficult for other branches of municipal government to focus on issues of parking when there are so many other areas for them to focus on,” LaLone said. “A DDA gets to focus on the downtown and other branches get to focus on everything else. They’re not single-focused. We are. And that’s why it’s good to have a DDA.”
The Lake Orion DDA formed in 1987.