The owners of a dozen downtown Graham businesses turned out Friday afternoon to show their opposition to putting a new city park in the front portion of a municipal parking lot that will significantly reduce the number of downtown parking spaces for their staffs and customers.
The twelve were part of a larger group of more than 20 business owners who are protesting the city’s council’s proposal as “not conducive to good business downtown.”
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The city council is scheduled to meet Monday, April 27, at 10:00 a.m. to vote on accepting a bid to move forward with park construction.
“The group hopes the Graham city council will hear the voice of the business community before voting on Monday to proceed with the new park,” according to the group.
In an interview at the Friday afternoon meeting, at least one business owner distinguished between her position on the Sesquicentennial Park, which the West Elm Street park is supposedly replacing, versus the loss of parking from using the 129 West Elm Street parking lot for the new park. “I’m concerned with the loss of parking,” she said.
Others have expressed support for restoring the Sesquicentennial Park on the northwest corner of Court Square.
Among the signatories to the downtown business owners’ opposition to the new park are:
Griffin McClure, owner of Green & McClure Furniture;
Renee Russell, owner of 64 Harvard;
Adam and Amanda Miller, owners of Frank’s Jewelry;
Maria Clapp, owner of Wise Owl Investments and Elm Realty;
Jerry and Julie Harrison, owners of Roasted Coffee Depot;
Tom Boney, owner of The Alamance News;
Julian Doby, owner Julian Doby Attorney at Law;
Jennifer Bohigas, owner of The Verdict;
Crystal Lawson, owner of Powercade;
Daniel Alvis, Maple Street Tavern;
Cheryl Rich, owner of Sandy and Co.;
Shelly White, owner of Little Blessings;
Amy Wilkinson, owner of The Main Line;
Jason Cox, owner of Press Coffee Crepes Cocktails;
Kristen Holliman, Co-Owner of Little Oblivion Brewing Company;
Tony DiLello, owner of DiLello Law Firm PLLC;
Tom Jones, owner of Tom Jones Taxes;
Jane Albright, owner of Things From Above;
Paul Crotts, owner of Graham Furniture Mart; and
Doc Reeves, owner of Doc Reeves Bail Bonds.
Bid opening reveals new, lowest bid at $1.2 million for parking lot demolition and construction of the new park: https://alamancenews.com/bids-in-for-new-graham-park-on-west-elm-street/
See other park-related stories from this week’s (April 23) edition of The Alamance News:
- Alamance News publisher files appeal over city’s proposed park across from newspaper office; Boney charges city didn’t follow notification requirements of state law; other irregularities also surfaced, including discussions between a supposedly neutral board and city staff: https://alamancenews.com/alamance-news-publisher-files-appeal-over-citys-proposed-park-across-from-newspaper-office/
- HRC member faults HRC chairman for some of confusion at March 24 meeting:https://alamancenews.com/hrc-member-questions-how-march-24-meeting-was-conducted/
- Even finding a time for a special city council meeting proves contentious; should it be morning, for convenience of staff, or evening, for convenience of residents? Council members and mayor disagree. Ultimately special meeting set for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27: https://alamancenews.com/graham-to-hold-special-meeting-to-award-contract-for-park-construction/
- The Public Asks: What is former Graham mayor Jennifer Talley’s position on building a new park vs. repairing the existing one?: https://alamancenews.com/what-is-the-former-graham-mayors-position-on-the-new-park-versus-saving-the-existing-one/
