Downtown Merchants Say Additional parking Needed

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Downtown merchants say additional parking is needed – particularly in the Commerce Street area behind City Hall – before renovation and construction of new buildings can proceed at a faster rate.

Folmar said warrants to pay for purchasing land for the judicial building at Dexter Avenue and South McDonough streets will not be issued by the city until the Legislature approves construction of the building.

The Senate in March approved such a measure and the proposal is awaiting action by the House.

Folmar said he will not discuss the cost of purchasing the land or razing the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, which now exists on the block.

The city also would have to spend $900,000 to build a new fire station in Oak Park to replace the existing one which was built in 1906 and has since become overcrowded, Folmar said.

Also at the meeting, the council heard protests from city residents who oppose two actions taken recently by the board.

Several residents of Rosa L. Parks Avenue – formerly Cleveland Avenue – complained that he name of the south Montgomery street was changed without regard for the feelings of people who live on it.

They presented a petition with 110 signature of people who are asking the council to rescind its action and reconsider the matter at a public hearing.

The council also heard from a Montgomery service station operator who read a statement from the Alabama Service Station Association condemning a three-cent per gasoline tax recently approved by the council.

Service station operators say Montgomery’s four-cent gasoline tax will be the highest of any other city or county in the state when it becomes effective May 1.