Biddeford a step closer to building downtown parking garage
Courtesy / City of Biddeford
Rendering shows the proposed parking garage in downtown Biddeford at 3 Lincoln St.
Biddeford’s City Council took several steps at its April 2 meeting to advance the long-anticipated parking garage in the city’s downtown.
The council voted to begin obtaining permits for the proposed Phase I parking structure located at 3 Lincoln St., a process expected to take four to six months. Desman Design Management will also proceed with the design for Phase II of the proposed parking facility.
In a news release announcing the vote, the city said parking needs in the 3 Lincoln St. area have become more urgent as Biddeford’s economic revitalization continues. Each new development project approved in the downtown adds to the demand for parking, which is now projected to outpace the proposed 522-space Phase I parking structure.
Phase II of the garage would add approximately 120 additional spaces, bringing the total capacity of the facility to about 642 parking spaces.
"Over the last few years, we have witnessed increased pressures on parking, and we know that there are soon going to be even more people in the downtown placing additional demands on parking, so we need to plan accordingly for the future,” Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant said in the news release. “It is important to respond to momentum in the development process now rather than try to play catchup when new development opportunities are presented.”
City officials characterized adequate parking as a critical linch-pin of a number of proposed developments as interest in redevelopment in the downtown area continues to increase.
“As a city, we have already lost out on opportunities for additional tax revenue because of a lack of parking for customers and employees of businesses that would have otherwise wanted to come to Biddeford,” Ward 5 Councilor Amy Clearwater said in the news release. “The proposed parking garage is another step that can be taken to continue to attract development to the downtown and add to the property tax base.”
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