With paid parking coming to downtown St. Joseph this summer, the city has a parking request for Berrien County.
Speaking to colleagues Thursday, Berrien County Commissioner Jim Curran said the county Administration Committee this week heard from St. Joseph City Manager Emily Hackwork, who was seeking out some new areas to allow free parking downtown once paid parking starts on the west side of Main Street.
“What they requested of us is the courthouse parking lot, that they would be able to utilize that as free parking,” Curran said. “She said that they are going to implement the paid parking this year, in May, and that they are requesting only the courthouse parking lot.”
Curran said the county has a few things to consider before granting such a request.
“I know we have that parking lot already dedicated throughout the summer. We want to know how many times it’s already being committed because they’re basically just asking for it in the evening and on weekends when the courthouse is not open.”
Curran told St. Joseph leaders the request will be taken under advisement. He asked county commissioners to give him their thoughts.
The city of St. Joseph intends to implement paid parking, again only on the west side of Main Street, between May 1 and September 30 of each year. The idea is to get more people parking on the east side of Main Street, where there are more spaces.
