2018-019 Downtown ParkingFebruary 16, 2018 Report No. 2018-019
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Downtown parking: current issues and solutions
BACKGROUND:
Several recent occurrences have led to parking difficulties in Downtown Denton: the closing and
reconstruction of the Cedar Street parking lot, the fire and demolition of the Downtown Mini Mall,
the traffic signal reconstruction on the Square, and the transition of the Wells Fargo parking lot from
free to paid. Economic Development, Engineering, Transportation, Facilities, and the City Manager’s
Office have been coordinating to communicate with the Downtown merchants and residents about
the progress and status of the projects. The following are updates on the current issues and steps
being taken to provide solutions for Downtown business owners, their customers, and Downtown
residents.
Cedar Street Parking Lot: A portion of the lot was poured the week of January 29. Staff
anticipates the contractor will open up the southeast portion of the parking lot the week of
February 19th providing use of 13 standard parking spaces and 1 ADA space. Once work on
the solid waste revetment is completed (walls), the dumpsters will be removed from Cedar
Street. This will restore two on-street parking stalls for residents, patrons and employees in
the downtown area. Target date for substantial completion of the parking lot is the end of
April to provide parking capacity for the Arts and Jazz Fest. Downtown Mini Mall Demolition: Much of the front façade of the Mini Mall has been taken
down. As a result, staff has directed Tactical Demolition, the demolition contractor at the
Mini Mall, to pull forward the fencing along Locust St. when crews are not working in the
evenings and weekends. This will open the spaces that have been blocked since December
26, 2017. The fence along Austin St. will be moved closer to the building once the rear façade
is demolished and workers and equipment are not present.
Traffic Signal Reconstruction on the Square: We have received a confirmation from
regarding their schedule for the next couple of weeks. In order to alleviate the parking
conditions around the Square during construction, staff has asked Durable Specialties (signal)
and Floyd Smith (concrete) to limit their work zones as much as possible while maintaining
safety buffers around the construction site. Staff also has asked them to park equipment off
the Square area when it is not being used. The entire project around the Square is supposed
to be completed by April.
Enhanced Signage for the Williams Square lot and other Downtown City lots: Attached
is a sample image of the sign that will be fabricated and installed at the Williams Square lot
by city crews next to the Wells Fargo paid parking signs. This will be completed in a week to
10 days. Similar signs will also be installed in other Downtown City lots. Update of Downtown Parking maps: Economic Development created and maintains a map
of the available free and paid public parking in the Downtown area. It was updated this week
and distributed to the City’s Public Communications Office, Main Street Association, the
Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Welcome Center, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Economic Development also posted the map on its social media channels.
Downtown business owner meeting: On Feb. 15, Economic Development staff facilitated
a meeting at Stoke for Downtown Business owners to discuss parking issues and solutions.
About a dozen people attended and shared the following primary concerns: customer
complaints about lack of parking and business being down, lack of parking for employees,
construction project timing (when projects are started, how long they last, and how many of
them there are at once), and the Wells Fargo lot becoming a paid lot. Potential solutions
discussed included:
o The merchants directing their employees to park in lots farther away from the center
of the Square
o Reaching out to other business owners with private lots to make arrangements for
employees to use those lots when the businesses aren’t (shared parking)
o Actively educating customers about available lots using the downtown parking map
(“hidden gems of downtown parking”)
o Valet using private property since there is an ordinance prohibiting use of public
ROW for valet services
o Contacting Lyft/Uber about providing discounts to riders being dropped off in the
Downtown area
o City asking contractors to work during off-peak business hours
o City being more cognizant of how project timing affects businesses and doing a
better job of coordinating projects with that in mind
Economic Development staff spoke to Eric Schmitz, the owner of the paid lot on Elm Street,
who has agreed to offer Downtown merchants a special price on parking tags for their
employees for the next 60 days until the signal construction and Cedar lot is done. Finally,
staff will be facilitating another business owner meeting the week of Feb. 19 to go over a list
of planned CIP projects taking place downtown in the next 6 months to a year in order to
solicit their feedback about timing and communications.
CONCLUSION:
A number of factors have come together to create a difficult parking situation in Downtown. Staff is
being proactive in finding ways to alleviate issues and communicate with affected business owners.
Staff will work closely with Downtown merchants regarding future plans for CIP projects and how
to time them to minimize adverse effects on their businesses.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Sample Image of Sign
2. Updated Downtown Parking Map
STAFF CONTACT:
Caroline Booth, Director
Department of Economic Development
940-349-7730
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This map is a graphic representation prepared by the City of Denton Economic Development Department and is intended for use only as a reference. Data depicted here is not guaranteed for accuracy and may be subject torevision at any time without notification. A Registered Surveyor for the State of Texas was not consulted. For Survey level accuracy, supervision and certification of the produced data by a Registered Professional Land Surveyor for theState of Texas would have to be performed.
Denton Downtown Public Parking
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City of DentonADA/EOE/ADEATDD (800) 735-289(940) 349-7776www.cityofdenton.comEconomic DevelopmentPublished 02/18
LEGEND
A. County Parking Lot Spaces: 111 A.1 County Carroll Courts Bldg Spaces: 75 City Development Srvs Spaces: 85 AVAILABLE AFTER 5PM & SATURDAY/SUNDAY
B. City Hall West Aux. Lot Spaces: 47
C. Williams Trade Square Spaces: 102
D. City Hall Parking Lot Spaces: 106 (back, Post Office & main enterances)
E. McKinney/Oak/Oakland Parking aka Former County Assessor Spaces: 125
F. Civic Center Parking Lot Spaces: 185
G. City Hall East Parking Lot Spaces: 121
H. Public Parking Lot Spaces: 117
I. Public Lot - PAID PARKING Spaces: 42
J. Wells Fargo - PAID PARKING Spaces: 106
DCTA TRANSIT CENTERA-Train/Bus Depot
HISTORIC COURTHOUSEON THE SQUARE
GOVERNMENT OFFICES1. JOSEPH A. CARROLL2. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES3. U.S. POST OFFICE4. CITY HALL5. CIVIC CENTER6. CITY HALL EAST/ POLICE DEPT
DCTATransitCenter
A-Train
TIMED STREET PARKING2 HR LIMIT - ENFORCEDM-F 8am - 5pm
10 MINUTE WALK1/2 Mile radius
5 MINUTE WALK1/4 Mile radius P PUBLIC PARKING LOTSWITH # AVAIL SPACES