South Park Place construction concerns business owner

• Streetscapes, Canal Market and the historic jail projects push construction to unprecedented levels.
• City and county officials say there is enough downtown parking, but it will require more walking.

NEWARK – As construction projects in downtown Newark converge on South Park Place, at least one business owner worries how merchants will survive.

Attorney Jonathan Veley expressed his concerns Tuesday at the Downtown Newark Association meeting.

The city’s $12 million streetscaping project, the Evans Foundation’s $4 million Canal Market District and the Licking County Government Preservation Society’s $230,000 cleaning of the historic jail have pushed downtown construction to unprecedented levels, all just south of the Courthouse Square.

“We’re all trying to figure out how we’re going to cope,” Veley said. “It’s going to be great when it’s done, for all of those left standing.

“Who’s going to want to walk down there when parking is gone? Parking is going to be a huge issue.”

Construction forced the closure of the gravel parking area bordered by Canal, Market, Second and Third streets, the adjacent parking garage and all of Second Street from Walnut Street to South Park Place.

Roger Loomis, city utilities superintendent, said the downtown does not lack for parking areas, even during the construction.

“We don’t have a parking problem,” Loomis said. “We have a walking problem.”

Robertson Construction will maintain some parking behind South Park Place businesses and parking permits for alternate dedicated lots were issued, DNA President Tom Atha said.

County Commissioner Tim Bubb said county employees were notified Monday to park behind the Park National Bank building at 22 S. First St. He said there is available parking, but people will have to walk farther.

“No question it’s an inconvenience and a learning curve for people,” Bubb said. “The parking garage (reopening) will take a lot of the pressure off.”

The South Second Street segment of the project, including at least the lower level of the parking garage, will be finished between July 27 and Aug. 3.

Work on Second Street to East Main Street and all of South Park Place is scheduled to begin the first week of August and finish in late October.

Joe Hickman, project manager for the city’s Division of Water and Wastewater, said the city may add handicapped-accessible parking spaces on South Second Street when it reopens.

“I can understand the concerns of South Park Place owners and operators,” Hickman said. “From what we learned on Second Street, we have a modified plan for South Park and others.”

Work on the Canal Market District, which will include an open-air farmers market, was delayed, and weather extended the South Second Street work, Hickman said, but all entities are communicating their plans.

“As we’ve been able to do on South Second Street, we’re in constant contact with the owners of the property,” Hickman said. “We’re out here every day to help them with any challenges that come along.”

Veley said he the farmers market construction should have been further delayed when it became clear South Park Place would be torn up at the same time.

“It looks unlikely they will be ready to pave our road before the asphalt plants close for the winter,” Veley said. “If we have to wait until spring for paving, I don’t know how many businesses will make it through the winter.”

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958

More online

Visit www.wedignewark.com for more information on downtown construction and available parking.