Joshua Pike says before the county installed parking meters this summer, he had problems finding a parking space downtown, but now, there are a lot more open spots on the street.
“It brings more people downtown in a different kind of way because they have a guaranteed parking space,” said Pike.
Clay Murphey, SPLOST manager for Macon-Bibb, says they want to add an additional parking deck somewhere near the courthouse.
“There are available parking spaces and parking decks. We've got one at the other end of Mulberry Street, so if we put one on this end, it will encourage development up First Street and Cherry Street,” said Murphey.
About a decade ago, a federal judge ordered the county to renovate the court house because it's unsafe for judges who can't leave the courtroom without mingling with family members or defendants.
Murphey says the county has set aside $40 million for the project. He says the architects are looking to build a new superior court building next to the Grand Opera House, on top of their current parking lot and building the new parking garage somewhere near the corner of First and Mulberry Street.
He says they’re waiting on plans from the architects before asking commissioners to approve of using $427,500 from the SPLOST funds for the architects to finish the project, which would come from the $40 million.
Murphey estimates 400 parking spaces in the new deck, which Pike agrees downtown needs, especially if they offer rate cheaper than the meters.
Pike says he's seen so much growth in the downtown and hopes people who frequently visit there will be rewarded for shopping locally.
Murphey says the parking could be used by the courthouse, nearby churches, and anyone visiting downtown.