CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – An attempt at reserved on-street parking downtown ended abruptly last week after pushback from dismayed business patrons.

Visitors to Sanctuary on Main, which offers weekly yoga classes from its location at Main Street and Fourth Street, have grown accustomed to parking in free, marked spaces along Main Street in front of Sanctuary, and along Main across Fourth, where parking isn’t marked at all.

But on July 15, signs were installed indicating that those spots were now reserved, and that non-permit holders parking there would be towed.

In a letter to Clarksville Now and several city officials, Sanctuary patron Mandy Gann said, “The closest free spot to visit my favorite establishment is now half a block away. This is a challenging uphill walk. I am blessed to be an able-bodied soul, but this business caters to individuals with disabilities, seniors, pregnant mothers, and other citizens with mobility issues.”

“I urge those who are responsible to reconsider the zoning of these parking spaces. It’s painful for a patron to look out to parking lots of unused spaces and see no place for our citizens to park to find rest and reprieve,” Gann said.

Clarksville Now began looking into the matter, but just three days after the signs were installed, they were taken down on July 18.

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Michael Palmore, director of Building and Facilities Maintenance for the City of Clarksville, said this was the first and only case of reserved on-street parking, and that it was only ever intended to be temporary while other parking garages are under construction.

“This was a one-time decision to temporarily assist some of our local, downtown businesses,” Palmore told Clarksville Now. “The signs were removed because we recognized, and were sympathetic to, the impact of this. We always want to be open-minded and work with downtown stakeholders, because the success of one of us is a success for all of us.”

Millan Enterprises offered spaces

Millan Enterprises was caught up in the complaints; they along with F&M Bank Arena were the two businesses named on the reserved parking signs.

Millan Enterprises owns the Regions Bank Building two blocks away and had created additional parking behind The Mailroom restaurant for its businesses. “Despite exploring all options to add additional parking, Millan Enterprises remains constantly at capacity during work hours,” Chris Reneau, chief financial officer for Millan, told Clarksville Now.

The company reached out to the city Parking Commission on May 15 to ask about renting more parking spaces downtown, for both employees and tenants. On May 24, they were told spaces might be available along Main beside the Regional Planning Commission, which is across the street from Sanctuary. On May 24, Millan Enterprises was advised that the Parking Commission had approved the spaces on a temporary basis, until the new parking garage was opened, Reneau said.

The company would have to provide signage at their own expense. They purchased the signs, which were delivered to the Parking Authority on June 25 but not installed until July 15.

“Millan Enterprises was not aware of any concerns or issues until they received notice that their signs were removed,” Reneau said. “Millan Enterprises is committed to working with other local businesses and the community to find solutions to parking constraints. With new parking garages coming online in the next few months, many of these constraints are expected to be alleviated.”

“Millan Enterprises has consistently supported downtown development and the broader Clarksville community and remains committed to being a good neighbor and contributing positively to the community.

Parking meters in the works

Sanctuary on Main co-owner Amanda Rush said that when the signs went up, they had several angry patrons. She said they Palmore visited Sanctuary and invited the owners to come speak to the Parking Commission. They did, and explained how the reserved spaces would be detrimental to their business. “He was very nice and apologetic,” Rush said.

Gann expressed gratitude for the removal of the signs. “I am so very grateful for those of you who put those wheels in action,” she said in a letter, singling out City Council members Deanna McLaughlin, Karen Reynolds and Keri A. Lovato for assistance and answering questions.

However, that doesn’t mean free parking along Main Street will continue. Palmore said there are plans to install meters for paid parking along Main at Fourth, but the timeline for that has not yet been determined.

Rush said Sanctuary on Main has been expecting that, and she is surprised that parking on Main has remained free for as long as it has. “I’m hoping our patrons will still come and pay the street parking,” she said.

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