22-03-2025
How much parking does Mitchell's Main Street really need?
Mar. 21—MITCHELL — Does Mitchell's Main Street need more parking?
The Mitchell City Council, during its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, discussed the purchase of an empty gravel lot at the corner of Third Avenue and Main Street for $1, but ultimately tabled the discussion to clarify intentions with developer John Adamo and to seek options for future development of the lot.
The plan for the city to buy the lot has been in the works for quite some time.
City Attorney Justin Johnson told the council it could sign documents and proceed, but there was no guarantee that Adamo would also sign. No alternative plans were considered because the council budgeted for the parking lot to be paved in 2025.
"I also don't know that the owner is willing to proceed with it if that's not going to be the case," Johnson said.
According to Johnson, Adamo is retaining the southwest corner of the gravel lot to build a garage to house garbage cans and storage for Adamo's Kitchen, coming soon on the ground floor of the Woolworth building across the street from the empty lot. If the council moved forward with the agreement, it would be obligated to give Adamo an easement to access the future garage, no matter what would be developed on the lot.
"In the 35 years that we have lived in Mitchell, I don't think there's ever been a time that I needed to park anywhere in the downtown area when I had to walk more than two blocks," council member Susan Tjarks told the Mitchell Republic. "I don't think that parking is that big of a problem."
Tjarks' estimate included busy events downtown, like the Corn Palace Festival and sporting events. Tjarks spoke of previous discussions to make parking diagonal on Main Street to add a few more parking spaces per block.
"If all you ever have to do is walk two blocks, then we're in pretty good shape," said Tjarks, who is the council liaison to Mitchell Main Street and Beyond. "What people really want is the parking spot right in front of the door. And honestly, I'm that girl, too."
She said a parking lot doesn't produce tax revenue and has expenses, including paving, maintenance, and snow removal. A commercial retail building, on the other hand, produces sales tax and property tax revenue, according to Tjarks.
Council member Dan Sabers is in favor of adding more parking and more development, citing the loss of four to six parking spaces at Main Street intersections due to bumpouts and streetscape improvements.
"Almost every open lot used to have buildings on it. They deteriorate and we don't get more," Sabers told the Mitchell Republic. "You know, it would be nice to have someone build, but I haven't seen anybody build in the 20 years I've been living in Mitchell."
Sabers praised Adamo's efforts with the Third and Main building remodels.
"The Old Crafty Fox building is an amazing asset to downtown. It's a building that wouldn't have got done if it wasn't for him," Sabers said.
Three corners of Third Avenue and Main Street,
including the empty grave lot, are owned by Adamo.
"Are we doing this to clean up the area? Or what do we need parking for?" Sabers said.
Sabers owns the Midtown Plaza Mall on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street.
"I'm probably not the person to answer that question. I know that this project has been in discussion for about a year. I think it originally was initiated by the current owner," Johnson said.
Council president Kevin McCardle questioned if the city would pay for Adamo's portion of the parking lot to be paved.
"He'll be responsible for any of the improvements on the portion he's keeping," Johnson said.
Tax Increment District No. 26, which was created to aid in the renovations for the Crafty Fox building and developing the empty parking lot, has generated $15,918. By 2024, it was predicted to be at $94,000 in incremental financing, according to City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein.
"Because they're not generating as fast as they thought they would, it could be that they won't receive the full amount by the end of the TIF," Ellwein said.
Anyone who builds on the lot would pay taxes into TID No. 26.
"I think there's five of us sitting around this table that's been snookered," Bathke said. "Because he stated in his developer's agreement that he's going to build, in the amount of $800,000, anywhere from a 3,000- to 6,000-square-foot building. He says he's going to build, and he didn't do it."
Bathke said he agreed with Sabers, that the council would be bailing out Adamo if it moved forward with paving the parking lot. Bathke noted that, in the past, the council said it didn't want another empty lot at Seventh and Main Street, which was previously a Casey's gas station, and is now a bare parking lot.
City Planner Mark Jenniges told the council that there are 972 parking spaces on the north section of Main Street and 140 parking spaces on the south Main section across 16 lots.
The locations of the parking areas from First to Seventh avenues, on Main Street a block and a half in either direction, is 522 parking spaces; north of Seventh Avenue, near TMA Tire and Puetz, is 385 parking spaces; James Valley Community Center has 65 parking spaces; south on Main Street in front of the Depot has 140 parking spaces.
"I think we should offer it up and do an RFP (request for proposal) and see if anyone wants to build on it. It's prime location, one of the busiest streets in Mitchell and we want development downtown. We want a big anchor store," Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson said, adding: "If we make it a parking lot it'll be a parking lot forever."
The council agreed to table the topic for two weeks to learn more of Adamo's intentions.
"Obviously, with the number of apartments that they are remodeling and investing into improving you need parking spots for people to move in, so I think it'd be good to have a discussion with them," council member Jeff Smith said.
Also during the meeting, the council approved an additional $300,000 to Muth Electric for the intersection of First Avenue and Main Street to install American Disabilities Act compliant sidewalk and ramp improvements.
The council approved a contract is with HR Green for First Avenue and Main Street and includes construction management services for an hourly rate not to exceed $31,808.40.
The cost for ADA compliant ramps at First and Main came in at a cheaper rate than previously estimated, according to Public Works Director Joe Schroeder.
The construction is to last from May through July and is expected to be completed in August. Council member John Doescher opposed the project.
In November 2024, the council awarded a bid to Muth Electric to
replace the traffic lights and light poles on Main Street at First and Seventh avenues
for $429,328.57 with an additional contingency of $187,331.43. The light poles might not be installed until fall 2025 due to a delay in ordering the aluminum- colored poles.
