By Matthew K. Roy
Staff writer
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PEABODY — The budget approved this week by the state Senate directs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to study the availability of parking in downtown Peabody and to recommend ways to improve parking in the area.
The study will be completed by Jan. 1, 2011, according to a budget amendment put forth by state Sen. Fred Berry.
The study should further the effort to revitalize the struggling Peabody Square area, Berry said. He cited a proposal to transform downtown into the "medical hub of the North Shore" and a city-run grant program aimed at enhancing signs and business facades as recent positive steps in the right direction.
With progress being made to mitigate flooding, Berry believes the downtown has "enormous potential" to attract local businesses.
"I do think we can think about the future," he said. "Because the downtown is very important."
Earlier this month, Councilor-at-large Ted Bettencourt suggested the city offer tax breaks and zoning relief to encourage doctors and other health care professionals to open offices downtown. He argued that the booming health care industry could be the anchor that fuels the area's rebirth.
During discussion of Bettencourt's proposal, councilors identified parking as a logistical problem that Peabody would need to address. Council President Dave Gravel said a multi-level garage would improve access to parking and help satisfy the demand created by an influx of new business.
"(The study) dovetails nicely with what we're doing downtown," Mayor Michael Bonfanti said, "and we appreciate it very much."
The mayor just launched the Facade/Signage Pilot Program to aesthetically improve the area in time for the annual International Festival, a September event that draws hundreds of people to Peabody Square. Using $100,000 in federal and state grant funding, the program will provide up to $15,000 to individual businesses to restore architectural details, upgrade windows and doors, or install new signs, awnings and lighting.
Meanwhile, in the absence of more comprehensive solutions that the study might provide, the city is implementing smaller, more immediate measures to improve parking downtown.
The City Council on Thursday approved turning the now permit-only Central Street parking lot into a half-permit, half-metered parking area. The taxi stand now operating in the lot will also be relocated to in front of the District Court on Lowell Street. The move will free up at least three parking spaces, City Planner Nate Jones said.
Berry's amendment serves as a directive to the Department of Transportation. The cost of the study was not included in it. The senator speculated that it could be in the range of $50,000.
The Senate passed its $28.4 billion budget for 2011 early yesterday morning. The budget must now be passed in the House and then reviewed by a Conference Committee of lawmakers before being signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick.
