Downtown Wallace parking forum discusses current issue, future needs

WALLACE — A mix of downtown Wallace merchants and interested citizens gathered in the Wallace Woman’s Club Feb. 18 to give their input on issues involving parking downtown. Wallace Town Manager Rob Taylor told Duplin Journal that the forum was scheduled after the town received some complaints about parking downtown, especially on Main Street.

Taylor, who facilitated the Wallace Downtown Parking Forum along with Wallace Police Chief James Crayton, apologized for a graphic he posted on social media that insinuated the town was considering the installation of parking meters downtown. Taylor said he used Artificial Intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, to create a graphic for the forum which automatically generated visual images of a parking meter and a sign saying, “enforcement coming soon.” The graphic created a negative response on social media.

Complaints regarding downtown parking, primarily from merchants, range from people parking in spaces for very long periods of time, to employees parking in front of businesses on Main Street limiting access to spaces by patrons.

Using a downtown map on a video monitor, Taylor pointed out the current parking rules for downtown which show a mix of one-hour and two-hour parking restrictions. He pointed out there are signs in the area that were installed in 1965.

On the issue of charging for parking, Taylor said that has never been a consideration of the town or the town council.

Crayton added he did not want the police department to become involved in parking enforcement downtown.

“We’re not going to police for profit,” Crayton said.

Most of the concern focused on Main Street parking, while several comments were made regarding plenty of parking available during the day on Railroad Street, Boney Street and other locations. A few attendees expressed concern over employees who work at locations such as 211 Main Salon having to walk to side streets after dark. It was suggested that additional lighting on Railroad Street, Boney Street and around the Wallace Depot could make those areas safer.

Crayton said those concerned about employees walking to parking spaces not located on Main Street can call for a police escort to their vehicle.

After much discussion, a consensus was reached that it was best to eliminate all hourly parking restrictions downtown. In regard to the current signage indicating one-hour or two-hour parking, Michael Blackburn, who has an office on West Railroad Street said, “I’d take them all down.”

His remark was followed by several saying, “Amen.”

“We’re happy to do that,” Crayton said.

Another consensus was reached that the best way to handle those who may be parking for a long period of time in front of their business while they worked elsewhere is communication. Most agreed that cars left in downtown spaces for very long periods of time can be reported to the police department for investigation.

A car that had been left in a parking space for almost two months was recently towed under a town abandoned-vehicle ordinance.

While the agreement on parking issues seemed to please most attending the forum, it is obvious that downtown parking needs will have to be addressed again in the not-too-distant future as the growth of apartments over shops becomes more common.

Currently, there are two apartments already occupied on Main Street that have a total of four occupants. That number may soon change. Edward Troublefield, a developer originally from the Faison area who now lives in California, attended the forum and said his plans to convert the Carter Building on Main Street into first-floor shops with apartments above are being delayed because of the lack of parking for future residents of the apartments. He said banks financing the project want to be assured adequate parking will be available. He said the bank is asking there be a minimum of 28 parking spaces available for residents and their guests.

Taylor asked Troublefield to meet with him to discuss options. Crayton said one possibility would be for the town to purchase a tract of land specifically for parking.

“One acre of land can have parking for 100 cars,” he said.

Crayton added the one suggestion of a parking deck downtown would be very expensive, saying it costs almost $80,000 per level to construct a parking deck.

As far as the elimination of all time-restricted parking currently in effect, the town council will have to approve that recommendation. It is likely it will be on the agenda of an upcoming meeting.

At the conclusion of the forum, Crayton suggested there be other forums in the future to allow citizens and town officials to gather to discuss issues.