By Geoff Smith

North Battleford studying parking patterns during shutdown

May 5, 2016 | 5:00 PM

While maintenance is the main reason for the two-week closure of three downtown North Battleford parking lots, it’s also a bit of a test.

The three lots are actually available for development, which means if it proceeds, those parking stalls would be lost. But it may not be as big an issue as it would appear.

“It seems that most of the parking lots, there’s still room available (in) the rest of the parking lots,” Jim Puffalt said today, May 5, the fourth day of the closures. “It seems that people are finding a place to go. I know some buildings have spots assigned to them, so maybe people are using their spots right now.”

Some city staffers are monitoring where drivers are parking. Puffalt, in speaking with them and having a look for himself, feels people are still finding parking spots. He suggests convenience is the main reason these lots are used.

“Maybe it’s just, it’s closer to their place of work and that’s why they’re choosing it as opposed to the spots that are designated to them,” he said.

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One of the lots, between the liquor store and the RBC tower, has for sale signs posted by the city. For years, this site has been meant to be a big part of the King Street Station downtown revitalization plan

“It’s hard for developers to walk by, or come into town, and (say) ‘what do you mean it’s for sale? It’s a parking lot,’” Puffalt said.

“I think people would be happy to see a development on that property,” he added. “The original idea was to develop parking lots that people could use – that’s the paved lot – and then the rest would be developed. It’s not very good visually, if we’re trying to sell it, and people can’t see what’s being envisioned for the place.”

The goal, Puffalt said, is to keep people in the downtown area after office hours by attracting them with dining, entertainment, shopping and events.

However there are currently no imminent deals in the works.

gsmith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @smithco