New parking deck may have retail

Saturday, November 10, 2007

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com

Site at Holmes, Green, Lincoln is under study

Huntsville officials want to park more than just cars in a planned downtown parking deck.

They're hoping to recruit a small grocery store or restaurant on the ground level to help make downtown a little more vibrant.

The five- or six-level parking deck will be built on land bordered by Holmes Avenue, Green and Lincoln streets across from the old Times building and the 301 East condominium tower. That's the site of the city's 130-slot Lot D surface parking lot. The ground floor would be enclosed and available for lease.

Tommy Brown, director of Parking and Public Transit for Huntsville, said the city is considering a structure with 450 to 500 spaces and retail opportunities on the ground floor. A special tax district approved last year to help build a new Lee High School included $4 million for the parking deck.

City Planning Director Dallas Fanning said Friday the parking garage will help ease a shortage of parking downtown while luring more downtown development. "We're trying to encourage mixed use," Fanning said of the commercial space. "This is an effort to serve the demand as well as create some incentive for more growth. When we get that garage built, I think you'll see some office development on that north side of downtown."

The commercial space in the garage will be about 10,000 square feet, he said.

The project is not far enough along to lock in tenants. Fanning said officials have talked to several would-be proprietors: a sandwich shop, a dry cleaners and a small market that sells grocery items.

The City Council moved a step closer on the garage project Thursday night with the awarding of a contract to an environmental firm for soil testing. The $8,800 contract with OMI Inc. is needed to analyze the property's suitability for a multistory parking deck.

The city's Natural Resources Division ordered the environmental study because of the land's history. A gasoline station occupied the site from the early 1940s until approximately 1962. The study will look for signs of leakage from three old underground storage tanks and also evaluate the impact on two permanent monitoring wells on the northeast edge of the site.

"Historically, downtown Huntsville has had a gasoline station nearly on every corner including the subject site," said the contract. "Known contamination has been identified not only on the adjacent property to the north but on many properties in the immediate area." The firm will identify tank locations and give an estimated budget for removal.

City Councilman Mark Russell, whose district includes downtown, said whatever is built should be compatible with its surroundings and not be too tall and obtrusive. Russell said the retail component should look far better than a garage facing. "What's on the street level is real important. I'm hoping it will be in keeping with the architectural style of the neighborhood, not just some ugly parking garage."

The Holmes Avenue garage won't be the only city parking deck built in tandem to a commercial or business use. The expanded VBC garage partnered with the Big Spring Summit office building. The Clinton Street parking deck, built 35 years ago, was designed with a high ground floor roof in the hope of including retail or office tenants. Nothing ever materialized.



New parking deck may have retail Saturday, November 10, 2007 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com Site at Holmes, Green, Lincoln is under study Huntsville officials want to park more than just cars in a planned downtown parking deck. They're hoping to recruit a small grocery store or restaurant on the ground level to help make downtown a little more vibrant. The five- or six-level parking deck will be built on land bordered by Holmes Avenue, Green and Lincoln streets across from the old Times building and the 301 East condominium tower. That's the site of the city's 130-slot Lot D surface parking lot. The ground floor would be enclosed and available for lease. Tommy Brown, director of Parking and Public Transit for Huntsville, said the city is considering a structure with 450 to 500 spaces and retail opportunities on the ground floor. A special tax district approved last year to help build a new Lee High School included $4 million for the parking deck. City Planning Director Dallas Fanning said Friday the parking garage will help ease a shortage of parking downtown while luring more downtown development. "We're trying to encourage mixed use," Fanning said of the commercial space. "This is an effort to serve the demand as well as create some incentive for more growth. When we get that garage built, I think you'll see some office development on that north side of downtown." The commercial space in the garage will be about 10,000 square feet, he said. The project is not far enough along to lock in tenants. Fanning said officials have talked to several would-be proprietors: a sandwich shop, a dry cleaners and a small market that sells grocery items. The City Council moved a step closer on the garage project Thursday night with the awarding of a contract to an environmental firm for soil testing. The $8,800 contract with OMI Inc. is needed to analyze the property's suitability for a multistory parking deck. The city's Natural Resources Division ordered the environmental study because of the land's history. A gasoline station occupied the site from the early 1940s until approximately 1962. The study will look for signs of leakage from three old underground storage tanks and also evaluate the impact on two permanent monitoring wells on the northeast edge of the site. "Historically, downtown Huntsville has had a gasoline station nearly on every corner including the subject site," said the contract. "Known contamination has been identified not only on the adjacent property to the north but on many properties in the immediate area." The firm will identify tank locations and give an estimated budget for removal. City Councilman Mark Russell, whose district includes downtown, said whatever is built should be compatible with its surroundings and not be too tall and obtrusive. Russell said the retail component should look far better than a garage facing. "What's on the street level is real important. I'm hoping it will be in keeping with the architectural style of the neighborhood, not just some ugly parking garage." The Holmes Avenue garage won't be the only city parking deck built in tandem to a commercial or business use. The expanded VBC garage partnered with the Big Spring Summit office building. The Clinton Street parking deck, built 35 years ago, was designed with a high ground floor roof in the hope of including retail or office tenants. Nothing ever materialized. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.