Lukewarm response to parking deck idea

The idea of a public parking deck off

of the Baker Avenue viaduct drew a tepid response from some city

councilors at a Dec. 5 work session.

BNSF Railway reclaimed last month 31

parking spaces in a lot on their property near the O’Shaughnessy

Center. Due to hiring more employees, they needed more parking. The

lot west of the depot has also been changed to a 30-minute drop off

for Amtrak customers and for BNSF overflow parking.

City Manager Chuck Stearns is

interested in the possibility of leasing out the “air rights” above

BNSF’s reclaimed parking area with the intention of building a

second-story parking deck that could be entered from Baker Avenue

in the viaduct area. The project would be paid for with funds from

the tax increment finance district.

At the work session Sterans said the

most effective parking structures are those without ramps. Baker

Avenue, he noted, could be used as the ramp. He acknowledged some

possible problems with the idea. Drivers exiting the parking deck

would be required to go northbound over the viaduct, instead of

toward downtown.

“Everybody would like ingress and

egress from Central,” he said.

Stearns wants the parking deck to be

built with the option of adding another level if future demands

deem it necessary.

Councilor Turner Askew wanted to know

the estimated cost per space of a parking deck before moving

forward with the idea.

Councilor Phil Mitchell agreed that

cost was important and that the idea of a ramp off Baker was

“questionable.”

“I want to figure out the [high school

bond] and a new city hall first,” Mitchell said. “This is not on my

radar for No. 1 or No. 2.”

Mitchell said that until the city has

an answer from BNSF about leasing the air rights he’d rather not

continue with the idea. He estimated the cost of such a structure

to be in the $2-$3 million ballpark.

Carolyn Pitman, executive director of

the Whitefish Theatre Company, said during public comment she is

happy the city is looking for some type of resolution to the loss

of parking. She noted that theater-goers and visitors are having a

difficult time find any parking at all.

“It’s really stressful and difficult

for drop-off or to buy a ticket,” she said. “It’s frustrating for

people who come to enjoy the area.”