8/13/14 - Despite lingering questions about Brighton's parking situation, business owners and city officials hope to eventually resolve the issue. As Brighton continues to develop with the addition of more restaurants and shops, the city is looking to address the need for more parking. The idea of a parking garage, or adding more lots, both had support after talking to local business owners and people downtown, as did leaving the situation how it currently is. The city purchased land on North Street that currently is being used for temporary parking, but would be the location of the proposed garage. Mark Binkley, vice chairman of the DDA and owner of Cooper and Binkley Jewelers, says he thinks more parking would be nice, but is not necessarily needed. "People, generally speaking, can find a place to park. They might not be able to pull in front of the store on Main Street, but if they park in the lot on North Street they can pretty much hit every store in the downtown and cover less ground than they would in the 12 Oaks Mall or Green Oak Mall." The city has estimated the cost for a parking garage to be $7 million for a 191-space, four level structure located on a plot of land at North and West streets that currently houses a surface lot (pictured). Downtown Development Authority Director Matt Modrack said this is too expensive of a price tag, and is exploring other options. He also acknowledged that the largest problem is with employees parking in consumer spaces for long hours. To help this, he says a time limit may be changed for certain parking spots. Despite not believing a structure is the best fit right now, Modrack said the city put itself in a good position by purchasing the property on North and West streets because the location is good for a structure should the city decide it can afford it down the line. To add more parking in the form of lots, he said a deal between the city and CSX Railroad is almost complete that would give Brighton access to a lot that could hold 80 to 90 new spaces. He said the lot would likely be ready in the spring. As it stands, the city understands the long term parking concerns, and is working to alleviate the problem. However, all sides agree that there seem to be no simple solutions for an issue that many municipalities wish they were facing, namely being so popular that parking is at a premium. (AV/JK)
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