Parking lot improvements being eyed
SANDPOINT — City plans for the downtown parking lot have cooled off over the past several months, but a potential grant could put the project back in the spotlight.
Planning and Zoning Director Jeremy Grimm received council approval last week to pursue grant funding for the lot reconstruction. With funding sources yet to be identified for the project, which would result in significant improvements to the city parking downtown lot tucked between Second and Third avenues and Oak and Church streets, Grimm believes a successful grant acquisition could be the last necessary piece of the puzzle.
Some money is already squirreled away for the project, according to Grimm. A parking in lieu fee contains $31,000 for the project, while the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency has also made an $85,000 commitment. Grimm aims to secure another $100,000 from funding source Environmental Solutions for Communities.
“This is a grant that looks for innovative ways to address and contend with stormwater in urban areas,” Grimm said.
The project bears many similarities in spirit with the design philosophy of the Sandpoint Downtown Streets guide, especially when it comes to environmental philosophies and stormwater management. A major component of the guide, drafted last year by Portland, Ore., consultant SERA Architects, are “green streets,” which use environmentally-friendly approaches like bioswales to manage stormwater while giving streets a distinct aesthetic and identity. Similarly, Grimm envisions improvements to the downtown parking lot that combine functionality and cost-efficiency with high visibility.
That certainly suits the type of projects detailed under Environmental Solutions for Communities grant eligibility. Established through a partnership between Wells Fargo and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the program prioritizes sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices for urban areas. The deadline to send out letters of intent arrives Dec. 16.
If the grant is acquired, Grimm aims to use the existing project funds for match requirements. However, it may be only the beginning when it comes to improving the downtown lot. According to Grimm, he has some big ideas, and just one additional funding source may not be enough.
“I’m going to try my best to get $100,000 from this program that we can pair together with others,” he said. “It appears that with even $200,000, I’m not going to be doing a lot more than chip-sealing the parking lot, and I aspire to do a whole lot more than that.”
City officials have considered a variety of approaches for the city parking lot over the past few years. A meeting in May 2012 saw city officials weighing options like building a multi-level parking garage in one portion of the lot while making another portion available for private development, thereby retaining public functionality while adding a revenue-generating component.