Powell City Council OKs public parking agreement adding 50 new spaces downtown

POWELL — Parking is about to get easier in Powell.

Powell City Council approved a parking agreement Tuesday between City Manager Andy White and property owner Vincent Margello that will eventually add around 50 spots at 59 E. Olentangy St.

The parking lot, tucked behind Stogies Cigar Lounge, is for Local Roots customers right now. Through the agreement, the lot will become public parking.

“The parcel to the east [of 55 E. Olentangy St.] is actually a private parking facility right now. What this agreement seeks to do is to transfer that ownership to the city for the period of four years,” White told council.

Vice Mayor Tom Counts praised Margello for working with the city on this project, noting there has been a sustained effort to develop shared-use parking agreements with private business owners.

“We have had a very difficult time getting private owners of parking spaces to agree to allow their spaces to be used, during weekends and other times when those parking spaces are needed,” Counts said.

The agreement comes after the Powell Development Corporation (PDC) board met Aug. 25 and approved awarding a $25,000 Façade Grant to Margello to demolish 55 E. Olentangy St., current home to Stogies Cigar Lounge.

The grant covers up to 50% of building demolition costs and installing parking signage, which is estimated to cost $50,375, per a memo sent to the PDC board.

White anticipates Margello will begin demo work next month, according to a memo he sent to council, so long as the zoning commission approves the demolition when they meet Sept. 9.

If zoning does approve the demo, White said work will begin in mid September and the parking lot could be open to the public by this fall.

A win-win for Powell and Local Roots

The building’s demolition creates an opportunity to add both private parking spaces for next-door restaurant Local Roots — another building Margello owns — and public parking.

Local Roots owner Jessi Iams-Kaniaris has previously come before city council to express her frustration with the lack of downtown parking.

She said she installed large signs making clear the lot is reserved for her customers and has towed vehicles parked there for other purposes.

The Local Roots parking lot will expand into where Stogies used to be following demolition and concrete filling. Stogies will soon move to its new location at 94 W. Olentangy St.

Meanwhile, the new public parking lot will sit in what is now the connected back lot open to Local Roots patrons. There will be a barrier between the two and signage distinguishing which is which.

Powell will install the signage, and pay for 50% of the construction work, not to exceed $88,600, according to the agreement. Powell will be responsible for plowing and salting the lot.

Construction also includes widening the access drive to State Route 750.

The city will also pay a yearly fee of $115,000 to Margello for the next four years, making the agreement only a temporary solution to downtown parking woes.

“It’s the right move. It’s a short-term gain, but it’s a significant gain,” Councilman David Lester said.

Mayor Heather Karr noted one of the top things Powell residents asked for in the community attitude survey was parking.

“This is the beginning of the answer to that question,” Karr said.

White previously said at the PDC meeting Margello eventually plans to redevelop the site to make way for a new business.

By the time the agreement ends, the new Scioto Street extension parking lot will be open, which will offer an estimated 130 spots.

White said the city will open a smaller number of parking spots when it completes the North Depot Street reconstruction.