[HSVTiger]

Parking Deck

The five- or six-level parking deck will be built on land bordered by Holmes Avenue, Green and Lincoln streets across from the old Times building and the 301 East condominium tower. That's the site of the city's 130-slot Lot D surface parking lot. The ground floor would be enclosed and available for lease.

Tommy Brown, director of Parking and Public Transit for Huntsville, said the city is considering a structure with 450 to 500 spaces and retail opportunities on the ground floor. A special tax district approved last year to help build a new Lee High School included $4 million for the parking deck.

City Planning Director Dallas Fanning said Friday the parking garage will help ease a shortage of parking downtown while luring more downtown development. "We're trying to encourage mixed use," Fanning said of the commercial space. "This is an effort to serve the demand as well as create some incentive for more growth. When we get that garage built, I think you'll see some office development on that north side of downtown."

The commercial space in the garage will be about 10,000 square feet, he said.

The project is not far enough along to lock in tenants. Fanning said officials have talked to several would-be proprietors: a sandwich shop, a dry cleaners and a small market that sells grocery items.

The City Council moved a step closer on the garage project Thursday night with the awarding of a contract to an environmental firm for soil testing. The $8,800 contract with OMI Inc. is needed to analyze the property's suitability for a multistory parking deck.

HSV Times