Save downtown and its parking spaces

I think a parking garage downtown is a long overdue addition. I have many concerns, though, about the re-figuring of the blocks along Central Avenue. I had to miss Wednesday's meeting to staff our shop. Its Christmas. I appreciate these meetings, but for those who can't make a meeting, let's take another look at the proposed changes and their costs.

First, I don't mean monetary costs. I mean how these proposed changes will change our town and where we are heading.

Can we truly afford to lose 21 parking spaces, seven per block, to downtown Central? Are we now more of a walking-downtown, or are we still a place where stores offer something that locals need and need to access quickly in their busy days?

That is, will losing 21 parking spaces make it too hard to run into Nelson's to get that plumbing part, into Haines to fill a quick prescription, into any of our restaurants that offer pick-up to grab lunch as we run back to work? And those are just a few examples.

As partner in the Imagination Station, I know how many parents rely on us for a quick present before a party. It is not uncommon for parents to drop their kids off at the party then come to us to get a present to take back. With the current number of spaces, circling the block is common. Near misses when pulling out are frequent.

The added parking in the garage will help someone who has a leisurely day before them, but for locals who need single items quickly, losing parking on Central Avenue will affect us all. Please take a moment to think of the many ways you run to downtown Whitefish and how that lack of immediate parking will effect your day.

These 21 spaces are the minimum. Soon we will be experiencing the state re-doing Second Street. As they widen and re-do the intersections, we will be losing at least some, and possibly all, of the parking along that street downtown.

Then, besides the bulb-outs and raised crossings that will delete spaces, it has been proposed that the sidewalks be widened by 18 inches to be even more pedestrian friendly. I understand that our hired consultants recommended a four-foot increase to sidewalks, and that was nixed quickly. Excellent decision. Still, between widening the sidewalks and lengthening the parking spaces half a foot, we will lose four feet to our road.

How many times have you had to back out a bit to see if you could pull out when leaving your parking space? Envision what that might be like if there is four feet less of driving area, and the oncoming car is coming too quickly.

Now picture that with large cars — will they still be able to pull out to look and make that turn without jeopardizing the other lane? Contractors, please weigh in on how that will effect your ability to access Nelson's.

I know this is a tough one, with many alternatives being heatedly discussed for many years. How do we keep a viable downtown that isn't just a tourist stop? As we've all seen, shops come and go throughout the years. I think we all know that the ones that have stayed are the ones that locals need and use, not just in the summer or winter, but all year round.

Is it possible to add the parking garage and just upgrade the infrastructure of downtown without changing the layout of Central? Is being "pedestrian friendly" more important than just being friendly?

Although I don't agree with shortening Central's driving area, I do want to say thanks for all the work the Heart of Whitefish has done. There is no way to truly thank you for the countless hours spent planning and information gathering at the many public meetings. A parking garage is a long overdue addition that will greatly enhance our town.

As a partner in a business and downtown property owner, I will not mind the property tax increase for the garage. The expense of re-doing the facade of our building once the sidewalks are done, while budgeting for income loss during our block's reconstruction, will be hard but necessary.

I have always backed the resort tax with its improvements to Whitefish. But losing out-front parking spaces I do mind.

Are aesthetics and the shopping experience of out-of-towners more important than realizing the needs of our locals for quick in-and-outs to their downtown trips? Can't we have the best of both worlds and add the parking garage and still retain as many spaces as we can in downtown?

Mary Witbrod lives in Whitefish.