Osseo Looks to Add More Public Parking
Osseo’s Economic Development Authority is looking for ways to add more public parking downtown. The city is investigating adding about 30 spaces behind the First Avenue Commons Building.
This year, the city has been looking for more options for public parking in its downtown. In a summer EDA meeting, city planner Nancy Abts said potential new businesses have re-evaluated locating downtown due to a perceived lack of parking. Plus, recent developments have also brought more people downtown. Rochon is a two-story office building completed in 2016 and brings 30 new professional employees downtown. The final touches also went on a 140-unit apartment complex called 5 Central in 2015.
Nearly 50 percent of the city’s commercial entities are located downtown, so customers and employees must drive from outside of the city’s .75 square miles and park downtown.
Adding Public Parking in Osseo
At the October EDA meeting, members discussed adding about 30 spaces behind the First Avenue Commons building. The building is commonly referred to as the old pharmacy building. The EDA directed staff to work on an agreement with the property owner to allow public parking there. If all goes as planned, the parking lot could be in-use as a public lot in time for Minidazzle.
To listen to the full discussion, click here.
