TRAVERSE CITY -- A new city parking deck could be in the works if a local developer moves forward with an adjacent commercial project.
Traverse City's Downtown Development Authority on Friday discussed plans for a 400-plus space deck at 305 W. Front St., a vacant property near the Riverview Terrace housing complex.
The city commission also will discuss the subject at a Monday study session at 7 p.m. at the Governmental Center.
The DDA commissioned a series of deck designs for the West Front Street site from Southfield-based parking consultants Rich & Associates, the same firm that designed the Old Town parking deck under construction near Eighth Street.
The West Front deck would be built only if local developer Gerald Snowden moves ahead with his "RiverWest" development project near the intersection of Front and Pine streets. Tax revenue generated from that development would cover more than half of the deck's estimated $10.2 million construction cost.
"Really, what we wanted to do is make sure we're at a point that if Mr. Snowden proceeds, we're ready to respond," Community Development Director Bryan Crough said.
Snowden said he won't move forward until he hears about the city's parking deck plans. His development would include 75,000 square feet of commercial space, and it needs dependable parking.
"We're still in a holding pattern waiting to hear from the city" about parking plans, he said. "If they invest, I can invest."
Answers could come Monday. The city commission can't take formal action at a study session, but could throw its support behind plans to move forward with the deck, Crough said.
City voters in 2006 shot down plans for the city to spend up to $16 million to bond a west-side parking structure as part of a proposed development pushed by Federated Properties, though officials contend parking sorely is needed on the west side of downtown.
City commissioners on Monday also will discuss the fate of city-owned retail spaces.
Commissioners previously said they'd consider selling ground-floor retail space the city owns in the City Opera House and Larry C. Hardy parking deck.
The issue came to a head after Evergreen Gallery and Floral failed to pay the city $25,000 in rent for space at the Opera House, then declared bankruptcy and relocated just down the street.
