St. Pete City Council approved on first reading a plan to increase parking spaces in the popular Edge District. A second reading and public hearing is scheduled for June 4.
Under the plan, parking would be made available in various locations in the area extending from 22 Street East to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street east to west and then from Fifth Avenue North south to Seventh Avenue.
The new parking will be borrowed from that currently used in association with Tropicana Field.
The ordinance would require driveway aprons on the right-of-way. All spaces would have to be paved and contain wheel stops to delineate individual spaces. Grass, shell or gravel surfaces would also be allowed.
Any lots that abuts residential property would require a six-foot masonry wall.
The temporary parking arrangement would run until June 11, 2017.
The plan was quickly assembled after business leaders in the growing Edge District established a parking need to support increasing business.
Council member Karl Nurse praised the city and Edge District business owners for finding a solution quickly.
โWithin a handful of days of our conversation here, Representatives of the Edge District did a walking tour and by the end of that conversation they knew what they wanted and moved forward quickly,โ he said.
The timeline establishing a temporary solution is meant to give the city time to establish a longer-term plan as part of a broader master plan for the area.
Council member Darden Rice pointed out the District was recently designated an accredited Main Street program.
โThatโs not easy to do and it reflects a commitment to historic preservation and community revitalization,โ she said.
The Edge District includes the popular Green Bench Brewery, the Mercado burrito joint and various new, up and coming restaurants and nightlife hubs.
