by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The City’s obligation to provide additional parking for the Landing took a step toward fulfillment at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, but there’s another hurdle in the issue that has been on the table for more than 20 years.
Council voted 17-0 to approve an appropriation of $3.5 million for the purchase of a surface parking lot at the corner of Bay and Hogan streets. Council President Richard Clark and Council member Denise Lee were excused from the meeting.
Tuesday afternoon, Landing partner Toney Sleiman said he expected approval and wouldn’t be surprised if Ordinance 2010-330 was strongly supported.
“My gut feeling is it will be unanimous,” said Sleiman. “The City will finally do what they agreed to do years ago and I’ll be able to get some national tenants.”
Sleiman said the parking lot will add 300 more spaces to the Landing’s available daytime parking inventory and he has an agreement with the owners of the parking garage adjacent to the Omni for another 75 spaces dedicated to the use of Landing patrons at night.
A few hours before the vote, mayor’s office spokesperson Misty Skipper confirmed the administration is against the funding and that Mayor John Peyton will veto the council’s action.
“He believes it’s bad public policy,” she said.
Skipper outlined the reasons Peyton will reject the ordinance, including that the legal obligation in place “requires the Landing to build a parking garage, then the City is bound to contribute $3.5 million to the completed project, not to purchasing a surface lot.”
She also said, “This doesn’t add parking capacity. It’s a grant to allow the purchase of a surface lot which will continue to operate as a surface lot. Third, there is no guarantee issuing this grant will result in any new retail or restaurant establishments.”
Sleiman said he knew there was a good chance Peyton would veto the measure and added, “I think the Council realizes it’s time to get this done but he’s the mayor and he has the right to veto it.”
The veto can be overridden by another Council vote with a two-thirds majority in favor of the funding.
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