Uptown Westerville to Submit Three Stage Parking Plan to City Council

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Westerville City staff made their third and final presentation on September 30th to the community concerning reorganizing the retail and restaurant, Westerville Uptown District’s parking before talking it to city council for final approval.

The plan identified short medium and long term improvements such as short term solutions such increased signage, additional spots in front of Hanby, increased marketing presence, and a two hour parking limit.  Frankly, the two hour limit, if enforced,  brought as much flack as anything else.

Midterm improvements include the possibility of shared lots and a potential parking structure.

Long term includes additional lots, parking structures and modernized equipment. President of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association, Debbie Benatti, said there “wasn’t a lot of new information” at the open house, but she was pleased that many of the merchants’ suggestions were included. As the area transitions to more of an entertainment type district from mostly antique shops, the parking improvements are crucial to the success of the new type of retailers and restaurants coming into the Westerville uptown district.

Although this is absolutely impossible to do, I’d like to see the uptown district close to vehicular traffic and turned into area similar to 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, which has been a huge success for retailers and restaurants. They can’t do this because State Street is also State Route 3.

Given the massive changes coming for Westerville’s retail and restaurant Uptown District, massive changes will be necessary for the parking.  This is a great start toward that solution.