By Pauline Masson –
An organization that provides space for individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is asking the city to restrict parking beside their building to four hours to enable their clients to have fair access to the parking spaces so they can get into the building.
Martin Christianson, building manager for Allenton Foundation Pacific Facility asked the city to limit parking adjacent to their building, the former Masonic Lodge at 202 N. Columbus, which the Allenton Foundation purchased four years ago.
The building provides space for services organizations that help individuals striving to overcome drug and alcohol addiction enabling them to rebuild productive lives. Those individuals need the help they receive in the building, Mr. Christiansen said.
He said some vehicle owners are taking advantage of the public parking near the building, storing cars and trucks in the public parking spaces for days on end when individuals who truly need the services inside the facility only need to park for a few hours.
“Some people are taking advantage of the public parking,” he said.
He also said the city already restricts parking to help some businesses. He cited the handicap parking spaces in front of Camilla’s restaurant and the four parking spaces that were given to Brown Jerry’s to enable him to build an outdoor patio in the street. Both establishments are located on West St. Louis Streets in the busiest section of downtown.
It is only fair, he said that the individuals who are trying to get their lives back together should have access to street parking for a few hours near the facility.
A proposed, but less than popular ordinance, limiting the parking On East Union Street beside the building has had one reading (preliminary approval). It is on the agenda for an up or down vote at the Tuesday, Mar. 18 board of aldermen (BOA) meeting.
The topic has occupied BOA meetings and local social media websites for several weeks as aldermen and members of the public voiced concerns for and against restricting parking.
Aldermen Debbie Kelley and Rafael Madrigal had strikingly different views on who should have access to the street parking spaces near the Pacific Facility.
Alderman Kelley said she felt that the parking near the building was public parking and should remain public parking. She said she had talked with business owners near the site.
She said she appreciates what the Pacific Facility does for the community, she has friends and family members who attend, however it is public parking and she feels it should remain public parking.
Ms. Kelley said callers she spoke with questioned what would could happen if the city started restricting parking. She said had a list of five people who want to start restricting parking (an other sites) if the North Columbus and East Union restriction is approved.
“We need to be cautious with our decision with regard to what may follow,”Ms.Kelley said.
It should be noted that restricted parking on city streets is still public parking. Four-hour parking spaces would be open to all. They would not be relegated to the Pacific Facility clients. Similarly, handicapped parking on public streets or busness parking lots is available to all handicapped drivers and handicapped vehicle occupants.
Alderman Madrigal, who represents the ward where the property is located said he also had received “a lot” of phone calls from the area.
He said consideration should be given to the request from the Facility because the work they do actually benefits the city as a whole.
He said services provided in the building saves the tax payers funds because the people who utilize the services are able to stay clean and sober be able to go to work.
“It is better for our police department,” he said. “We have fewer DUI’s. We get people more motivated to contribute to society and to build more businesses here.”
“Access to street parking should be fair,” he said.
The proposed ordinance that is on the Mar. 18 BOA meeting agenda for a second reading, restricts parking on E. Union Street from N. Columbus to the alley (an area of five parking spaces) to four-hour parking.
“We are not talking about a huge area. Just spaces right there by the building,” Alderman Madrigal said. “For this association, we need to do something which is not only for the economic benefit of the city but to improve the standard of living for the citizens of Pacific.”
On the various soft media Facebook pages that serve the community, readers chose sides on whether to restrict parkings to help the Pacific Facility clients or leave the parking as it is.
Readers cited the number of businesses near the intersection that have customers who also use parking spaces in the area.
Mr. Christiansen asked the city to consider whether public parking should be used to store vehicles for several days, denying other drivers short term parking to visit the Pacific Facility or local business or.
