Downtown Development Authority Minutes

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Present: City Council: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Mayor ProTem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart

Downtown Development Authority: Margene Buckhave, Jim DeHaan, Lynda Heaton, Lou LaChance, Jim Long, and Greg Presley

Planning Commission: Jay Wendt, Rick Birdsall, Nancy Chiri, Marc Russell, and Anne Smith

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson, DDA Director Lori Ward, DPW Director Jim Gallogly, Recording Secretary Carol Kasprowicz, Reporters Maureen Johnston and Ivan Helfman, and 12 citizens.

Citizens Comments: None

Presentation of Design Concepts for Expanded Downtown Parking / Matt Jobin of Rich & Associates, Inc.

Matt Jobin of Rich and Associates, Inc. presented five options for a parking deck in the downtown. Three options dealt with a deck on the parking lot at Wing and Main, and two options dealt with a deck on the parking lot behind the Marquis Theatre on Dunlap Street. Included in the presentation of each option was a listing of total parking spaces to be realized, the construction cost, the owner’s direct costs, and the cost per parking space. The owner’s direct costs included an estimated amount for the purchase and demolition of the Edward’s Catering building, and the acquisition or swap of property in the Wing Street parking lot.

DDA Director Ward detailed the pros and cons of the five parking deck options. She then relayed the DDA’s recommendation of choice: the building of a 3-story deck plus basement on Wing Street with the proposed projects by Long and Buckhave to be placed on the north and south end of the deck, and the demolition of the Edward’s building and reconfiguring and patching asphalt of the entire surface parking lot behind the Marquis Theater on Dunlap Street.

Comments and points of discussion:

Utility replacement costs were included in the cost estimates. There is no need to relocate the utilities in the reconfiguring of the Marquis Theater/Dunlap Street surface parking lot.

Concerns expressed regarding the height of the deck on Wing Street.

Question regarding the amount allocated for the maintenance of the deck and in which budget will the costs be allocated.

Concern expressed in relocating Edward’s Catering. It was expressed by Council members that the City has a high priority in maintaining the business in downtown Northville.

Discussion took place on the timeline and coordination of construction of the deck and two developments.

Discussion on the aesthetic considerations of having two developments next to the deck on Wing Street versus a stand alone deck on the Marquis Theater/Dunlap Street lot.

Because of size constraints, the decks need internal ramping which precludes the building of two decks.

Concern expressed over a parking deck bordering the residential area.

Suggestion to further tweak the parking management plan instead of building the deck.

Opinion expressed that the Marquis/Dunlap deck would service more customers than the Wing Street deck.

Opinion expressed that the cost of the deck is too expensive for the return in parking spaces.

Discussion on the need to develop and foster commercial base to help the tax burden of the residents.

Business owners expressed belief that nearby surface parking spaces are more convenient to downtown business than a deck.

Upon reaching a consensus as to which options are to be implemented, City staff will proceed to explore the specifics of construction and the financial alternatives, arrange for survey work on the parking lots, negotiate development agreements, and initiate the process of revising the Tax Increment Finance Plan. It is anticipated that construction would begin in 2004 with completion in October 2004.

It was stated that the City Council needs to give a definite direction to Staff as soon as possible. Members of the Planning Commission stated their desire to meet as a Commission, prior to the next City Council meeting, to finalize their recommendation. Motion Russell, seconded by Smith to call a special meeting of the Planning Commission for Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Motion carried unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Meeting adjourned 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Recording Secretary