Council Nixes <nobr>9-0</nobr> Purchase Of Belmont Shore Site Of Former Roe Restaurant/Fish Market For Parking Structure

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Council Nixes 9-0 Purchase Of Belmont Shore Site Of Former Roe Restaurant/Fish Market For Parking Structure

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(Aug. 14, 2015) -- City Attorney Charles Parkin reported during the Council's Aug. 11 open session that in closed seesion, the Council voted 9-0 to reject the offer to purchase the property at 5374 E. 2nd St., thus concluding any real estate negotiations.

That address is colloquially known to locals as the former site of the "Roe" restaurant/fish market.

The parcel is zoned to accommodate building a parking structure...but from the time the concept was first floated, it drew neighborhood opposition.

On March 30, 2015, Third district Councilwoman Suzie Price held a community meeting to discuss what she said at that time were very preliminary terms about whether City Hall might or might not want to pursue with the property, located just west of Bay Shore Ave. near Claremont Ave. LBREPORT.com wasn't present at the March 30 meeting, but an attendee tells us that many of those present were from the Claremont Ave. area and voiced opposition to having a parking structure next to them.

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The item then progressed to a May 19, 2015 Council closed session which produced a request that the Belmont Shore Parking [and Business Improvement Area] Advisory Commission conduct a study which shall include the financial feasibility and traffic impacts and community outreach relating to consideration to purchase 5374 E. 2nd St."...

That led to a July meeting of the Parking Advisory body which voted against advising appraisal of the property for a parking structure and an accompanying feasibility study.

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Parking is a chronic sore point for both 2nd St. businesses and adjacent neighborhoods. The shortage of parking bedevils 2nd St. businesses and pushes customers into nearby residential areas where parking is already very scarce for residents.

At the same July meeting, the Parking Advisory Commission stalled (for now) to advise approval of a city staff recommended six-figure parking study, seeking to see details of the proposals submitted by the bidders.