By Gary J. Groman a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
The construction of the Branson Convention Center and a new parking garage in the historic downtown Branson business district over the last couple of years has disrupted the availability of parking for downtown merchants, employees and visitors. The majority of the free parking that was available in the top level of the Reish Garage was taken over by the city and used for construction trailer and worker parking. When the lower levels of the same garage, which provided monthly parking for the downtown merchants and employees, was also closed, the result was that parking spaces in the downtown area became very limited.
With the completion of construction and the recent openings of both the new garage and the Branson Convention Center, the city of Branson’s board of aldermen took two steps, at its rescheduled Sep. 13 business meeting, to expand the availability of parking in the downtown area. The first was the board’s final approval a Parking Garage Management Agreement between the city of Branson and Hilton Hotels Corporation. The agreement provides that Hilton Corporation, who also has a management contract with the city to run the Branson Convention Center, attached to the garage, and with the developer of Branson Landing to run the Hilton hotel attached to the convention center, will also manage the city’s parking garage.
The management agreement contains a specific provision requiring that the garage will provide the number of monthly spaces that the city may reasonably designate at rates set by the city. The agreement contains an initial monthly rate of $25.00 per month.
In a second related action, the board passed a resolution stating the city’s intent that the top level of the Reish Garage shall remain free and open on a first-come, first-served basis. It also states the city’s intent to provide at least 110 monthly parking passes in the garage, at an initial rate of $25.00 per month. These spaces will be available to businesses and employees in the downtown area and other potential purchasers, on a first come, first served basis.
The resolution also provides that the parking spaces currently under monthly lease in the parking lot, commonly known as the “Awbery Lot,’ at the southwest corner of Atlantic and Commercial Streets, shall be freed up and become open public parking on a first come first-served basis. This should free up about another 28 additional spaces for downtown visitors.
The resolution specifically provides that the “City recognizes that continued evaluation of parking usage in the Downtown area will be necessary to assess potential future alterations in parking arrangements.” It goes on to state that “The City will consider alteration of such arrangements as it deems necessary, taking into account input from those persons and businesses who utilize and benefit from the Parking Garages and other available parking in the Downtown area.”
