Owners of a roughly half-acre parcel downtown have expressed an interest in discussing a possible deal with the city of Lafayette to turn the land into much needed parking. With unanimous support from city council members who lauded the concept and underscored the need for more parking, $3,000 was allocated to split the cost of an appraisal of what is now the Barclay Simpson Gallery-Lescure Building directly adjacent to Diamond Kay on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
City Manager Steven Falk explained parking meter funds and enforcement revenue is accumulated over time, to be used to purchase parcels for off-street parking. "The law requires that the city can only pay fair market value," he said. "To start the process, we need to have property appraised."
He cautioned that the price may exceed the approximately $1.2 million balance that is in the parking fund. "Parcels that are this ideally suited for public parking very rarely come on the market and are available for the city to purchase," wrote Falk in the staff report for the city council.
The matter will come back to the city council in closed session.
City Manager Steven Falk explained parking meter funds and enforcement revenue is accumulated over time, to be used to purchase parcels for off-street parking. "The law requires that the city can only pay fair market value," he said. "To start the process, we need to have property appraised."
He cautioned that the price may exceed the approximately $1.2 million balance that is in the parking fund. "Parcels that are this ideally suited for public parking very rarely come on the market and are available for the city to purchase," wrote Falk in the staff report for the city council.
The matter will come back to the city council in closed session.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA