City, church agree to build parking lot

Downtown visitors and church members will share a new parking lot along Meridian Street.

As part of a joint project to add more downtown parking, Our Lady of the Greenwood Church and the Greenwood Redevelopment Commission have agreed to build a 160-space parking lot.

The new parking lot is planned to be built on two properties just north of the church on Meridian Street. The church will spend about $400,000 to purchase and demolish the homes, as well as perform landscaping work. The redevelopment commission will pay about $500,000 to build the parking lot. Members of the redevelopment commission unanimously approved the parking agreement and funding the city’s portion of the work.

The city will be responsible for maintaining the pavement and filling potholes. The church will take care of the cost of the electric bills from lighting, removing snow and maintaining the landscaping.

The parking lot will be reserved for church members during weekend services and open to the public the rest of the week. Construction of the parking is set to begin next year.

The church, the former Greenwood Middle School and the city have long had informal agreements where parking was shared. Parishioners would use school lots during weekend services, parents would use the church parking lot during games and other school events and residents heading to downtown festivals or to local parks would often use the church’s lot during the week.