news-record.com

It’s good that Greensboro needs more parking downtown. And not so good.

Activities and attractions in the center city draw more people, who have to find places to leave their cars. The vitality is welcome.

But creating additional parking spaces presents big challenges.

The City Council listened to some ideas Tuesday, heard some cost estimates and decided to park the issue for the time being.

There’s nothing like an $8 million price tag to stall a conversation.

That’s the estimated cost of a proposed five-level parking deck at South Elm and McGee streets. It could be built with retail space on two lower levels and 420 parking spaces above. Council members were impressed with the design, Councilwoman Nancy Vaughan said Wednesday, but decided “it’s not something we have to act on today, although it needs to be on our radar.”

The city’s four downtown-area decks and six surface lots regularly reach capacity — especially those nearest the courthouse. People with business there, including employees and jurors, often have to park blocks away. The new jail, which already has eliminated a parking lot, will further increase demand for parking space. The issue begs for an effort by city leaders to bring the county into a parking partnership.

Another possible parking partnership, with a proposed new luxury hotel, didn’t figure into the City Council’s discussion Tuesday. It should the next time. Hotel developers have expressed interest in a long-term lease for spaces in a new parking deck. The prospect of a built-in customer base and revenue stream should influence the city’s decision on where and when to build.

Meanwhile, the council has to contend with the difficulties of crafting a budget for the next fiscal year. Its priorities are jobs/economic development, public safety and infrastructure. Downtown parking touches on all three. Whether that justifies an $8 million commitment now poses a tough question.

But the council can’t stall for long. A busy downtown depends on safe, convenient places to park.