Doug Lewis awaits direction on Conneaut parking lot project

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

May 03, 2008 12:59 am

— CONNEAUT — If City Council desires, city administrators will try to pin down a price on property that could become Conneaut’s second municipal parking lot.
City Manager Douglas Lewis said Friday work on the proposed lot pending word from council. The next step would be to acquire a purchase price.
“Nothing additional has taken place,” he said.
Nearly two weeks ago, a majority of council authorized administrators to obtain more information on the parking lot. Since then, the pending project has run into a buzzsaw, drawing opposition from members of council and the community.
At issue is a chunk of land on State Street, between Washington and Harbor streets, some would like to transform into a parking lot. Washington Street businesses have requested extra spaces, said Ward 4 Councilman Tony “Dino” Julio, chairman of council’s downtown revitalization committee.
Officials have said the lot will cost around $118,000 to create the 24-space lot. The city would use money from its own revolving loan fund to finance the project. Public Works Department employees would flatten a small, vacant building on the parcel and then pave the lot.
Opponents say the cost estimate is too low and the parcel won’t yield 24 slots. Also, a second lot isn’t needed when another sits a block away, critics said. Skeptics also object to the use of Public Works employees, saying they are needed on road repairs projects.