Downtown merchants gather to discuss parking and other issues.
WESTFIELD – The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce convened a second meeting for downtown merchants at the First United Methodist Church on Monday morning. Chamber Executive Director Kate Phelon said they started the quarterly meetings in April to focus on downtown issues at the suggestion of their national trade association. “We all want our downtown vibrant and exciting,” Phelon said, adding that by working together, they can help to find solutions to the problems together.
For Monday’s meeting, Phelon invited Westfield Police Chief John A. Camerota to join the discussion, which centered largely on parking in the downtown area. Ward 3 City Councilor Andrew K. Surprise was also present for the discussion, along with representatives from nine downtown businesses.
Christine Bissonnette of Optimum Health Therapeutic Massage at 120 Elm St. said she favored two hour parking time limits on Elm St. because her clients would like to see her for an hour, and then grab a bite to eat, or visit other stores downtown. She said many of her clients are injured, so they want to park on the street and not have to move their cars.
Russell Atwood of Blue Umbrella Books at 2 Main St. asked whether businesses could validate parking for their customers who need more time.
“We lose business because of parking. The three-hour parking lot is always full. Are we going to turn them all into three-hour parking lots,” asked Awilda Colombani, owner of A Slight Edge Hair Salon at 20 Elm St. She said that she has some customers that take four or five hours; and also for her renters, three hours wouldn’t be enough. She agreed that validating parking would be one solution.
Anne Woodson of George’s Jewelers noted that there are now more businesses downtown. She recommended that parking in the downtown needs to be re-evaluated every three to five years.
Surprise said that a motion to increase downtown parking to two hours has gone to the Traffic Commission. He also suggested that diagonal parking on Elm St. be studied, because it “induces people to get out of their cars.”
Surprise also said the city just received funding from the state for larger signs for the downtown to direct people to off-street parking.
Anne Woodson of George’s Jewelers and Russell Atwood of Blue Umbrella Books.
Another problem raised was employees taking up on-street parking spaces. A suggestion was made to make the new parking lot planned for 2 Central St. all day-parking for employees, which would free up on-street parking for customers. Another suggestion was to designate ten spaces in the parking lot by the bus terminal for business owners, or in other parking lots on each side of town.
Surprise said the former Chinese restaurant on Elm St. is going to be demolished, and may be turned into more parking. Chief Camerota said he agreed that employees should have designated parking places in the lots.
“I don’t mind paying $100 a year if I have a designated spot,” said Colombani, adding, “The downtown is very important, and it is getting vibrant. I’ve been downtown for thirty years.”
Phelon also mentioned that a new business, Myer’s Information Systems, will be moving into 110 Elm St. next year, bringing 20 new employees downtown.
Woodson said the parking lots behind the stores aren’t kept clean, and are littered with nip bottles, cigarettes and needles. She also said the parking lots at night are too dark. Camerota said that Off-Street Parking could make a recommendation for additional lighting.
Prob Reshamwala of Mina’s Wine & Spirits and the Tobacco Barn at 52 Elm Street said his concern is that his customers are in and out of the store in fifteen minutes. He said he built a parking lot behind his store to accommodate customers. He said the parking lots are safe, and in the thirty-six years he’s been downtown, he hasn’t seen anyone get robbed or killed.
“This city downtown is safe to walk around,” Reshamwala said. He suggested adding cameras in all parking lots. Camerota responded that the city is constrained by budget issues.
Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise, Police Chief John A. Camerota and Chamber Executive Director Kate Phelon at Monday’s meeting.
Phelon agreed that something has to be done about the nip bottles and needles in the lots. Reshamwala said he is going to put a sign in his store near the nip bottles, asking customers to dispose of them properly.
First United Methodist church member Deb Michaud said that she had agreed at the first meeting in April with comments about how dirty the parking lots were, but that she’s noticed a significant difference recently in the Franklin Street parking lot, which she called “significantly cleaner.”
Woodson said many of the trash cans that were on Elm St. are now gone. Atwood agreed that recently he picked up some trash, and had to walk several blocks before he found somewhere to dispose of it.
Reshamwala said the trash cans on the street are always full. He said it is the business owners’ responsibility to keep their areas clean. “Everyone is responsible for keeping your business clean, front and back. My store, inside and out, we keep spectacularly clean,” he said. He also said business owners and employees should not park in front of the stores.
Woodson said there are two spots on Elm St. dedicated to taxis. “Now, you call for service, and they come and pick you up. Nobody is ever there.” She said the parking spaces should be reviewed by the Traffic Commission. Camerota said they would look into how often the parking spaces are being used.
The police chief asked Phelon what percentage of business owners responded to the Chamber’s survey of downtown businesses, that was sent out before the April meeting. Phelon said approximately eleven percent. Later she said although there were not many responses, the businesses that did respond made “phenomenal” comments and suggestions.
Camerota wondered whether the other businesses would agree with the recommended changes discussed at the meeting. Surprise responded that he would be happy to knock on the doors of the other businesses.
Woodson said she would like to see the group stay focused on the goals of two-hour on-street parking, three hour parking in all off-street lots, a possible placard from businesses for extending parking to customers, and reducing the speed limit through town from 30 mph to 25 mph, which was also suggested at the meeting.
Phelon said she would go to the Traffic Commission with requests on behalf of the merchants.
Downtown business owners who would like input into these recommendations may contact Kate Phelon at the Chamber of Commerce at 568-1618, or email [email protected] with suggestions and to be put on the meeting invitation list. The next quarterly meeting for downtown businesses has been scheduled for Oct. 15, 8 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 16 Court St.
“We’re going to keep dealing with issues that affect downtown merchants. We definitely want their input. This is for them,” she said, adding, “We’re excited about this. This is the Chamber working for you.”
