City and business leaders meet to parking problems in Idaho Springs Nov. 20.
Parking has always been a contentious issue in Idaho Springs, whether it’s in residential areas or downtown retail parking.
Those voices were heard at a Vitality Board Meeting hosted by the business group at Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub Nov. 20.
Business Promotion and Vitality Board leader Sadie Schultz and Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon tried to answer questions as the voices became more passionate.
“We’ve been misled, plain and simple, and our money is being spent elsewhere,” Pickax Pizza owner Bruce Boynton said.
Harmon pointed to the addition of 57 parking spaces in the downtown area where the former Sunshine Cafe was located for several years. According to Harmon, the city purchased the 1856 Colorado Blvd. cafe property with plans to raise the building and turn it into paid parking.
Early in November, city crews and contractors destroyed the building that was adjacent to Clear Creek and painted the additional parking spaces, which were all filled Nov. 22.
Harmon said the cost to the city came out to $19,000 per parking space added.
“My frustration is that the plans we’ve had for the last five years are no longer the plans for the next five years,” said Jason Vickers, owner of Sit-n-Chill in Idaho Springs.
Plans for a parking garage in the downtown area are currently on hold. City leaders said federal grant money for the project did not come through earlier this year. The announcement that the city is looking for alternate parking plans, now that federal funding is unavailable, drew more sharp comments from the business leaders and owners at the meeting.
“What I heard the most was the need for us to make some nimble decisions about how we’re addressing paid-parking,” Schultz said.“How that money is spent, how we’re charging for it, making sure the businesses feel like they have a voice at the table.”
Some business leaders said they understand the city’s position. They just hope the city understands theirs.
“Rent is higher, my bills are higher, everything is higher, but there’s no proof of growth,” Vickers said.
“I heard passionate voices on both sides,” Harmon said.