Parking and the Moby Dick of Ice Cream in the Neighborhood Assocations Tonight

At last month's downtown CAN-DO meeting, there was significant talk about the free, unlimited parking.  From the draft minutes:

What about downtown residents?

Councilor Bennett reported that the no-limit parking measure adopted last month is working “within tolerance” in most, but not all, parts of the Downtown Parking District, and that enforcement efforts, particularly with respect to employees of downtown businesses, jurors and volunteers, are challenging but ongoing. See SRC 102.050 (requiring downtown employers and workers to provide names to City). However, he also said he had had 10 to 20 contacts about downtown residents parking downtown during the day, taking up spaces intended for customers of downtown businesses, and wanted to know whether CanDo would support resident-parking restrictions designed to address the problem. By unanimous consent, the board tabled the question to allow members to contact friends and acquaintances in the downtown area, elicit their views, and invite them to the December meeting, when the question would again be considered.

Resident Carole Smith reported her concern that downtown residents are not prohibited by law from parking downtown during the day, and was invited to make a presentation on the subject at a subsequent meeting.

Looks like the presentation will be tonight.

This Tuesday the 17th CAN-DO meets at 6:00 p.m. at First Christian Church on 685 Marion Street NE. They will be discussing "downtown resident parking" and the possibility of proposing restrictions on it.

White Whale or White Elephant?

One of the most interesting places in town:
Ice Cream Plant and Wood Church at 17th/18th on State Street

Also on Tuesday the 17th, NEN meets to talk about the prospect of something at the now-idle Deluxe Ice Cream facility, apparently called "Moby Dick" by some!

You might have seen the recent piece in the paper:

The property owner’s representative also urged Northeast Neighbors, a neighborhood association, to support efforts to bring a new industry to the vacant site.

Joan Lloyd, chairman of Northeast Neighbors, said the property owner’s attorney mentioned that a bakery or brewery might be viable users.

“Whatever happens, we would like it to have a makeover,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd calls the old factory “Moby Dick” because of its stark presence in the 1800 block of State Street. Vandalism and break-ins at the former Deluxe Ice Cream plant have been reported to the neighborhood association, she said.

The Statesman Journal was unable to determine whether a deal to lease or sell the property was pending.

There isn't much out there beyond the speculation - so go to the meeting to find out more!

NEN meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem First Church of the Nazarene, 1550 Market Street NE.