Last week, The Review reported on the potential for 20-minute parking in downtown. Parking is always being a hot topic, and this time was no different, with plenty of opposing beliefs about what downtown needs.
In our last issue, Downtown Development Authority Director Lois Golden explained the need for short-term parking, while Sagebrush owner Dia Zaraga disagreed with the need, explaining his opinions and his belief that downtown focus needs to be shifted away from the perceived ‘parking problem? and into improving other aspects of downtown. (Check out these points of view at www.lakeorionreview.com, by searching keyword ‘parking.?)
Ed’s Broadway Costumes & Gifts owner Lloyd Coe said he doesn’t disagree with some of Zaraga points, but as a store that specializes in costumes and gifts; he sees the need for temporary parking.
‘The Cantina is still a very important part of the downtown, they’re without a doubt an anchor to the downtown and they bring a lot of people down here,? Coe said. ‘But, I think its only fair for the other businesses to get a couple of parking spots where they can tell their customers, when there is no parking spots, there is a 20-minute parking spot down there.?
And as a specialty store, he believes that a good portion of his customers look at Ed’s as one-stop shopping.
‘We have customers that come here from all over the place for costumes,? Coe said of his business. ‘We have costumes that sell for $1,000. It’s a planned purchase.?
For those customers that are running in with the intent to purchase a costume, Coe realizes that they might be willing to park and walk, but for customers that just need to stop in for a carton of cigarettes or a greeting card, no parking nearby may mean not stopping at the business.
‘They just end up passing you by when they see no parking,? he added. ‘They don’t have to fill up the whole town with (temporary parking spots), but a few aren’t going to hurt.?
Calling the need for temporary parking a ‘fair request,? Coe said that he doesn’t care if it’s six spots or just a few, but he thinks that some are needed.
‘There needs to be something done where we have a few parking spots that will turn over,? he added.