City of Monroe to get 50 more downtown parking spots

The city of Monroe will soon be adding more than 50 new spaces to its inventory of free downtown parking spots — although not on an every-day basis — with a unanimous decision last week by the Monroe City Council to sign a five-year lease on the parking lot at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

Located at 210 N. Broad Street, across from City Hall in the edge of the city’s vibrant downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district, St. Alban’s has been using a private company to operate its parking lot.

The lot, containing 50 regular spaces and a half-dozen handicapped parking spots, has been operating as a paid parking venue outside of the hours when it is being used by worshippers.

Under the lease, the parking lot will not be available to the public on Sunday, nor will it be available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, to accommodate the church’s need for the lot. The lease also provides that public parking can be halted at other dates and times, provided the church gives the city 48 hours advance notice.

The city will pay the church $25,000 for the first year of the lease agreement, which will begin July 1, and will pay $10,000 for each year after the first year, through the June 30, 2031 termination of the initial agreement. After that date, the lease will automatically renew for one-year terms. Either the city or the church can terminate the lease by providing the other party with notice of that intent no less than 90 days prior to the expiration of the lease term.

Any needed maintenance or repair of the parking lot will be the responsibility of the church, under terms of the lease.

The council’s decision reflects a desire on the city’s part to provide free parking for people visiting downtown businesses and restaurants and attending downtown events.

Councilman David Dickinson, a vocal proponent of free downtown parking, told his council colleagues that as far as paid parking is concerned, “We don’t ever want to get into that, not as a city.”

Dickinson went on to criticize property owners that are operating “pop-up” paid parking lots in Monroe. “Don’t do that,” he urged.

Public support for free parking, Dickinson continued, has been clear when he has made presentations on behalf of the city.

“I get a standing ovation when I say I’m a proponent of free parking,” he said.