More flowers, less parking.
In a continuing effort to landscape downtown Columbus, nearly a half-dozen parking spaces will be sacrificed to create a flower bed in Catfish Alley.
The demolition of the parking lot behind The Front Door/Back Door Restaurant began Monday morning. The concrete work was completed by Tuesday and the flower bed prepped by Wednesday. Flowers have not yet been planted in the new bed.
Downtown Columbus has approximately 300 public parking spaces, with three main parking lots. All three lot entrances run along College Street, with one located behind the post office, another behind J. Broussard’s and the last behind Front Door/Back Door restaurant.
The lot behind the Front Door/Back Door restaurant is nestled next to Catfish Alley and is used by numerous downtown business owners, clients, restaurant guests and shoppers.
Mayor Robert Smith said that although downtown is a busy place, he is not concerned about the loss of the six spaces.
“Deleting those parking spaces shouldn’t do that much,” Smith said. “Of course, people want convenience, they don’t want to have to park and walk but I really don’t see where it is a problem.”
Smith also added that while the 12 parking spaces have been removed to create room for the flower bed, striping is planned to create six new parking spaces, establishing parallel parking on both sides of Catfish Alley.
Karen Stanley, owner of downtown public relations firm NeonFrog located in Catfish Alley, said that while she will miss those parking spaces, it is a sacrifice she is willing to make to be a downtown business.
“It’s hard to explain to clients that they may not be able to park directly in front of my business when they come to see me but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to be downtown,” she said.
Stanley added that while parking can sometimes be problematic, she loves the quaint downtown atmosphere.
“I love everything about downtown. I love walking to lunch and running into old friends. It’s a warm community environment. We are in an older area that has developed, we don’t necessarily want a parking garage downtown.”
Jason Spears owns J.S. Wealth Management Firm, also located in Catfish Alley, and said the demolition of the spaces won’t affect him or his clients.
“I think it’s being resourceful. I know you’re losing spaces but at the same time I don’t think it will impact my business.”
However, another downtown business owner who wished to remain anonymous adamantly disagrees.
“We don’t need any more flowers. We do need more parking.”
The business owner is also concerned about the expense the flower beds are costing tax-payers.
“When our city taxes are as high as they are, I am concerned that those tax dollars would be spent paying people to water flowers on a weekly basis.”
The flower bed was planted as part of the recent effort to revitalize Catfish Alley.
The Jones family owns both Jones Liquor and Jones Restaurant located in Catfish Alley and recently approached the mayor and city council about renaming Catfish Alley in honor of the late Sallie Mae Jones.
The council initially tabled the motion and the issue was later dropped.
A new committee has been formed to discuss ways to beautify the street and pay homage to its history.
In addition to the flowers, Smith said the committee hopes to replace the current light poles and stop signs with decorative lighting, similar to the hardware in the new soccer complex and along Seventh Avenue North.
Councilman Kabir Karriem, a nephew of the late Sallie Mae Jones, said he is pleased with the efforts so far, but the flower bed is only the a start.
“It’s a beginning,” Karriem said. “With everything, you have a beginning. We haven’t had anything in Catfish Alley in quite some time. I think it’s a start. We’ll just see what else will come out of it.”
Karriem added that both he and his family are appreciative of the committee members and are anxiously awaiting proposed improvements.
“Catfish Alley has been one of the areas inside Columbus that has been neglected over a period of time,” he said. ” I really do appreciate the mayor and committee who are serving to help revitalize the area.”
Downtown business owners appear to be split on their opinion of the new flower bed.
“I completely support the beautification of downtown,” Stanley said.
The anonymous business owner feels differently.
“You can’t have too many parking spaces,” the tenant said. “You can have too many flowers.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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