FAYETTEVILLE -- The city got a glimpse Tuesday of what kind of development could grow from the fertile land of downtown's largest public parking lot, though some in the area were unhappy with the timing.
Developer Brian Reindl and architect Rob Sharp unveiled a proposal to the City Council to build a five-story residential and commercial building on the southern end of the West Avenue parking lot, which serves the Walton Arts Center and the rest of Dickson Street. The stone and brick structure could become an anchor of the entertainment district, Reindl wrote in a description of the plan.
Meeting information
Fayetteville City Council
• When: 5:30 p.m. July 5
• Where: Room 219, City Hall, 113 W. Mountain St.
The city has sought developers' ideas for what to do with the lot, and the plan's potential to reshape Dickson Street's heart, spark business and cultural activity and draw in tax revenue for schools and other needs made it "too compelling to leave on the table," Ward 2 Alderman Matthew Petty said.
"It's the bird in the hand," said Petty, who proposed putting the relevant section of the parking lot up for sale; the proposal was tabled until the council's next meeting. "It tests the new development concept, and it tests it in a parking-neutral way."
The 0.4-acre project would enclose part of the Frisco Trail under an arch through the building's middle and remove about 60 parking spots that would be replaced with stalls along West Avenue, according to city documents. Reindl offered to pay about $337,000 for the land and $87,000 for the new parking spots.
Any developer could offer a proposal if the land were put up for sale, and after discussing the offers, the council could choose one other than Reindl's, Petty noted. He said he also wanted to wait for some preliminary findings expected by next month from Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates' continuing study of Fayetteville's transportation network, which includes a detailed look at downtown parking.
Still, several Dickson Street business owners and others told the council the proposal was alarmingly early and could make access more difficult by spreading parking spots down West Avenue. The council voted in March to start accepting developers' proposals for the lot with the understanding that the city might not choose any of them.
"The question that comes to me is what's the hurry," said Carl Collier, whose family's drug store has been on Dickson since 1950. "Take your care, let's be prudent, take your time."
Collier and others urged the council to wait for the results of the entire Nelson/Nygaard transportation study, which are expected sometime next year. The city's paying the firm about $585,000, including about $100,000 for the parking part of the study.
"Parking's a key issue for everyone that comes to Dickson Street," said Barbara Taylor, a member of the Walton Arts Center's board.
Alderman Justin Tennant of Ward 3 said he liked the development but wanted to wait for next month's parking information, or perhaps even for the arts center's re-opening in November after extensive renovations.
"It (the proposal) may be exactly what we need in that spot at some point," he said.
Some supported the project without the wait, including Chamber of Commerce president Steve Clark. Ward 1 Alderwoman Sarah Marsh said the project would give people a reason to live in, work in and visit downtown -- a higher priority for her than a given number of parking spots -- and Alderman John La Tour of Ward 4 said he also supported it.
"We want private investors to come into our city and pump money into it," La Tour said. "You have to move on some of these things."
Tuesday's meeting continued past deadline, but earlier in the evening the council also voted to change the permit rules for big public events that close city streets and parking lots for more than eight hours straight. Bikes, Blues & BBQ is the most prominent example of an event that would be affected.
The council voted 5-2 to require organizers of such events to notify residents living within 300 feet of the event's location. The mayor still would approve event permits as usual, but now must notify City Council and pass along comments from the nearby residents. If at least two council members appeal the permit within a week of its granting, the full council would decide whether to grant it.
NW News on 06/22/2016