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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 23, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Two years after an initial study identified serious parking woes in downtown New Port Richey, city officials are ready to re-examine the issue.
As redevelopment efforts gain momentum, local businesses said they still are feeling the pinch for spots and are losing sales because of them.
Grant requests for a proposed three-story parking garage offering up to 280 spaces have twice been turned down by the Florida Department of Transportation.
City staff members project a shortage of up to 500 spaces.
Looking to offer some long-awaited relief, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously Tuesday night to fund a $16,680 study to analyze the current parking situation.
The TBE Group, a Clearwater-based consultant, would analyze existing spaces, potential sites for parking lots, decks and surface parking. It would also identify potential funding sources.
Although board members Tom Finn and Bob Langford balked at the study's price to tackle unknown problems, both agreed improvements were needed. Added Mayor Frank Parker, "I think we need to move forward with it. It's the beginning of the final step in my opinion."
Focus areas will include within 300 feet of All Children's Hospital at Main and Bank streets, where a deck has been suggested.
The study is due within 70 business days.
"Within the downtown if you can look at one thing that's limiting the expansion of business, it's parking," said Gerald Paradise, city redevelopment director.
"All Children's, when they told us they were leaving, said one of the reasons was not enough parking," he said last month.
The same is true of Main Street's Back Home Imports, which is moving to a new location on Rowan Road in late fall.
"If it came down to it I'd park people myself just to get 'em in the door," said Robin Kelly, the store's owner.
Instead it has come down to leaving.
After eight years, Kelly is moving her store from New Port Richey's Main Street to unincorporated Pasco County. There, 4,000 square feet of showroom will replace her current 1,800 and two acres of land will replace her four designated parking spots.
-- Melia Bowie covers the city of New Port Richey. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is bowie@sptimes.com .