Brighton continues to explore parking options, including gravel lots
BRIGHTON — The need for more public parking in downtown Brighton has been a topic of discussion amongst city officials, following the loss of 61 spaces.
Officials have directed city staff to explore the possibility of paving existing gravel lots to add more spots.
While no official action was taken Tuesday, April 23, during a meeting of the Brighton City Council, City Manager Gretchen Gomolka provided "rough" cost estimates for paving and adding space markings to two gravel lots already owned by the Brighton Downtown Development Authority.
More: What's the public parking situation in downtown Brighton? New public lot set to open soon
The Johnson Lot, located on the southside of W. North Street between Grand River Avenue and S. West Street, would cost about $41,000.
The Old Dairy Mart Lot, located on the west side of Grand River Avenue south of W. North Street, would cost about $32,000.
The city will gain 44 spaces on May 1, when a lot at the northwest corner of E. St. Paul Street and N. East Street becomes public.
The city lost 61 spaces after DA Building purchased land along W. Main Street and the site of a Fifth Third Bank at 300 W. North St. — as well as an unpaved lot off Hyne Street. DA Building is constructing a three-story, approximately 23,000-square-foot commercial building and plans to raze Fifth Third Bank (the bank will be a tenant in the new commercial building) for potential future residential or commercial development.
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Officials also recently entertained the idea of adding public parking on undeveloped land off Center Street near the railroad track, near existing public parking. The city already leases the land from CSX. It could return as a topic of discussion at a future council meeting.
Other options could include a parking structure. Earlier this year, the city entered into a "pre-development" plan with DA Building and the State Land Bank Authority.
"The envisioned project aims to achieve multiple objectives, including the construction of a public parking structure, new municipal buildings, increased open space, commercial storefronts, retail spaces, restaurants, and multi-family residential apartments or condominiums, without the need for the city to issue bonds or raise taxes to finance the public improvements," officials wrote.
— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton continues to explore parking options, including gravel lots
