Detroit To Build New Parking for Small Businesses

Writing in Bridge Detroit, Malachi Barrett describes a new effort by the city of Detroit to provide additional parking for small businesses, citing claims of negative impacts on local retail. “A 2018 Detroit Economic Growth Corp. report recommended expanding on-street parking in several commercial corridors, arguing that inaccessible or poorly designed parking lots negatively impact the development of retail businesses,” Barrett explains.

“Detroit planning officials said over the next two years, vacant land owned by the city or Detroit Land Bank Authority will be converted into small surface parking lots adjacent to commercial corridors,” estimated to amount to roughly 400 new parking spots at a cost of $9 million funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

According to Barrett, “Parking expansion also has been a theme in the city’s ongoing Strategic Neighborhood Fund planning process.” Beth Kmetz-Armitage, deputy group executive for planning, housing and development for the mayor’s office, added the lots “will be well-lit and accessible with standards set by the American with Disabilities Act.”

The article lists several city-owned sites that have been identified as locations for additional parking. Some include buildings that would need to be demolished to build parking.