By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Parking problems in downtown Hartselle probably won't be getting better any time soon.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said the city will not purchase a lot currently available off West Main and Corsbie Street in downtown Hartselle. A petition with the names of 33 downtown merchants was presented to Tankersley earlier this month. Signees asked the city to purchase the land and construct an off-street parking lot at the site.
Merchants have complained that the lack of downtown parking hurts businesses in the area.
Tankersley said the lot's owner, Gordon Davenport, wants $58,000 for the property. The cost of constructing a parking lot at the site would be an additional $33,324.
The city currently has some $90,000 set aside for downtown improvements. The money was designed to be used as matching funds for a $450,000 state grant the city hoped to use to repair the canopies downtown. The city learned in February the grant request was denied.
Tankersley said he would prefer the $90,000 stay in the account and the city reapply for the grant.