The San Luis Obispo City Council is moving forward with a plan to build a parking structure at Palm and Nipomo streets downtown.
The issue has become controversial over the years as some critics question the need for an additional parking structure downtown and its $20 million price.
June 3 is start date for paid Sunday afternoon parking in downtown SLO
New parking meters in downtown SLO will take cards, more money
San Luis Obispo atheists say Sunday parking fee structure favors religion
Could an IMAX theater come to San Luis Obispo?
Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas
The council directed city staff to hire a consultant to do a state-mandated environmental impact report studying the potential for adverse impacts of demolishing two houses, owned by the city, in the area where the structure is to be built.
The city bought those houses, at 610 and 614 Monterey St., for $1.5 million several years ago in anticipation of the project.
The latest report is expected to cost $75,000, which would be paid by the city’s parking fund. Included in the design of the parking structure are plans for a potential theater or other cultural center.
A handful of people encouraged the council at a recent meeting to proceed with the environmental study to allow for the future theater to be included in the project, which has been long envisioned by conceptual plans.
Representatives of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre said they hope to lease that spot when the time comes.
To date, the city has spent $157,000 from parking revenue on the initial design of the garage.
Officials estimate that the environmental review would be completed by year’s end, and then wind its way through the city’s various advisory bodies before going to the council for final approval in 2014.
Councilwoman Kathy Smith, who supported proceeding with the environmental review, cautioned the city not to proceed with building the structure until it was necessary.
“Don’t invest the dollars until we really need the spaces,” Smith said. “The Little Theatre is one of the greatest assets of our community … it needs to be their responsibility to pick up the cost for that. I hope the theater gets itself committed.”
Reach AnnMarie Cornejo at 781-7939. Stay updated by following @a_cornejo on Twitter.
SanLuisObispo.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. See our full terms of service here.
Here are some rules of the road:
You should also know that The Tribune does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "report abuse" button to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at webmaster@thetribunenews.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.
If you submit a comment, the username of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them, but you may ask our staff to retract one of your comments by sending an email to webmaster@thetribunenews.com. Again, make sure you note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us your profile name.
Be the first to know what's going on in San Luis Obispo County. Just tell us how you want to find out — we'll take care of the rest.
Sign up for breaking news alerts from SanLuisObispo.com and get the latest news sent to your cell phone via text message.
By signing up for alerts from this site, you are signing up for a program that may include up to 5 SMS text alert(s) per alert category per day. There is no service fee charged per month but your carrier's standard text messaging and other charges may apply. You may stop this subscription service at any time by sending the text message "STOP" to 72737. You must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to use our alert services. If you are between 13 and 17 years old, you agree that you have received parental permission both to complete the registration process and to receive SMS content on your cell phone. For help, send the text message "HELP" to 72737. This service will work with ATT, Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, Alltell, US Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Boost, Virgin Mobile USA, Celluar South, Telos, Centennial, East Kentucky Network, Cellcom, Immix and Rural Celluar.
E-mail »
Twitter »
Facebook »
iTribune »
Subscribe »
RSS »
About comments
Reader comments on SanLuisObispo.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Tribune. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.