SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) -- Business and residential expansion in the downtown could mean more changes in the city's center over the next few years.
Transit and parking director Derek Muench says the proposed downtown residential projects and an effort to recruit new businesses to some empty storefronts means a very close look at the future of parking. "It's forcing us at the city level to consider other options, including possibly a parking structure in our downtown at some point in time. There's some great things happening with different organizations, expansions, and that's going to prompt us to have to react, and I think in a good manner."
There's also a number of market rate housing projects coming to the area and Muench says the makeup of those looking for rentals in Sheboygan could mean a reevaluation of how the Metro operates. "Retirees may not be having two cars in their household. Students may be occupying the downtown and not affording a car. And then if you start looking at the younger professionals who are opting not to have an automobile, the public transit option has to be attractive to them." Those projects include the new apartments at the Boston Store site and townhouses in the city's South Pier.
All in all, Meunch says they are all good problems for the city to explore. "We already have a great booming downtown, I think we've got a lot to offer, we've got some great employers downtown, and we've seen an increase in usage and parking."
You can see more of this interview online at http://wscssheboygan.com by clicking through the On-Demand section to watch A Closer Look.
