DEMOREST - The Demorest City Council is happy that downtown is blossoming, but now is working to ensure the limited space can accommodate parking for the additional visitors.
Sweet Breads opened recently in the former city hall on Georgia Street. The renovated facility now includes a large rear deck and is seeing steady business.
Demorest Mayor Rick Austin said the limited parking available downtown is becoming a challenge.
"It's a nice problem to have," Austin said. "Sweet Breads is keeping busy, and we'd like to see other businesses locate in the downtown area as well, so we're going to have to be able to accommodate them with the parking."
Following Tuesday night's work session, Austin discussed some of the options city leaders have and are exploring.
"We looked at the grassed area immediately behind the pavilion, adjacent to the post office parking lot, as a potential, " Austin said. "Part of that is owned by an individual, and that discussion has been broached. We had a professional come in and evaluate our parking potential for downtown, and that particular grassed area would only yield six to eight spots."
Streetside, the city is looking at the possibility of creating parking near Demorest Federated Church.
"We've also looked at the area on North Hazel adjacent to the church and going into that bank area there and constructing," Austin said. "That would give us another eight spaces. I think those eight spaces are safe, they're needed and potentially usable."
Councilman Donnie Bennett said adding some spaces is better than none.
"Getting seven spaces is seven spaces," Bennett said.
City Manager Steve Lindsey said city officials developed an estimate of $18,000 to $20,000 for accomplishing the seven or eight parking spaces near the church.
"The other space that was looked out was not owned by the city," Austin said. "I've instructed the city manager to contact the owner, but around here we know it as 'Mr. Cason's garden spot'," Austin said. "That space would yield us the most parking - potentially somewhere between 28 and 30 parking spots there that would be very nice for community parking and city parking, so we're going to explore one of those avenues and do what we can."
Lindsey suggested he be allowed to report back on the option for the largest amount of spaces before committing money to creating the limited parking in the church area.
