One of Concord’s least-favorite parking areas is moving closer to an upgrade with the city council prepared to consider leasing land to add about 230 spaces near the Concord Coach bus terminal downtown.
But even the city, which backs the idea, admits that it is a stopgap measure.
“Recognizing this parking lot is a temporary solution to an ongoing parking issue for the bus station, City Administration has asked the (New Hampshire Department of Transportation) to consider working with (Concord Coach Lines) to develop a new, permanent Park & Ride facility to support the bus station,” says the staff report to the city council.
Under the proposal, Concord Coach will lease four acres of city land next to Storrs Street, a crescent-shaped parcel previously known as the Tsunis Property, which the city bought in 2014. The idea previously received unanimous approval from the Planning Board and is on Monday’s city council agenda.
The Concord Coach lot and adjacent park-and-ride area have 590 designated spaces with spillover areas for hundreds more cars that can be parked by the company’s valet system during holidays and other busy times.
But the area is often overflowing with cars lined up on grassy areas or in places where no parking is allowed. The situation has gotten tighter since The Lofts at 93 North were renovated at the former DOT garage on Stickney Avenue, which shifted some of that building’s parking spaces away from commuters.
Under the proposal before the city, Concord Coach would be responsible for all work and would pay property taxes on the land. The lot will be paved, illuminated and fenced. The proposed lease would run for 10 years with an earlier opt-out if needed as part of the Storrs Street expansion.
This area of Concord is a mix of odd-shaped lots, some owned by the city, some by the state, some by U-Haul as part of its operations and others by Brady-Sullivan properties.