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4.4.3 Implement and continue to modify parking resourca and procedures. Mentioned in the physical analysis, the study area boundary contains four city-owned parking lots generally well placed throughout the downtown core. Additionally, on-street parking has, been mostly converted to angle parking with a variety of times to accommodate the variety of uses (loading zones, more lengthy parking options on the outlying areas, etc.) Some best practices on public parking should explored. E11ensburg should conduct a "light" parking study to examine existing public and private inventory as well as on and off street parking. The study should also explore peak times for parking. Typically, the outcome of such a study presents tactics such as better signage, ongoing management of spaces, ensuring that close in spaces come at a time premium, and directing Jong-term visitors and employees to outlying lots. One option for Ellensburg to consider would be to implement back in angled parking on a block in downtown as a pilot project. This type of parking provides several advantages over traditional parallel or angled. parking. First, cars have much more visibility moving out of a space when they have backed in (and the movement into the space is easier than parallel parking), second the doors to the car open to the sidewalk rather than the street making it safer for parents with children, and the rear of the car is to the sidewalk allowing for easier loading for any shopping. Two potential opportunities for expanded parking exist on both the Skate Park lot (should it move) and on the Old Creamery Jot as discussed in section 4.4.4 below. Many communities have found than an annual parking summit allows policies to be tweaked and issues resolved as parking is an ever changing dynamic in downtowns. 4.4.4 Pursue a downtown boutique hotel with meeting space and parking. As mentioned in the market analysis portion of this study, there is a potential market for a unique hotel product in downtown Ellensburg. After evaluating several properties, the old Ellensburg Hotel in the Shoudy-Cadwell Building at the comer of 3rd Avenue and Main Street appears to be the strongest opportunity for several reasons. First, the location is highly visible which will be important for any downtown hotel. Second, while the hotel will need to be modernized and upgraded significantly, it has traditionally been a hotel. Third, its location provides visitors easy access to all of downtown Ellensburg. Last, the hotel has the potential for adjacent meeting space and parking. Figure 13 illustrates the potential for the project. The hotel could be located in the existing building with ground floor retail remaining in place. A potential joint use elevator tower could be constructed to the rear of the property for ADA compliance. Parking for the hotel should be located on the 'old creamery• site preserving the Art Deco fa~ade of the burned out building. Plan estimates show potential for 70 parking spots on this site which is less than a block from the hotel itself. The City of Ellensburg will need to be the partner to complete this parking resource reserving room for expanded parking through an "over/under'' ramp in the future. Rough estimates show that the hotel could probably accommodate 40-50 rooms depending on how it is configured. It is likely that the hotel's operation would be independent of a chain affiliation, though many national chains are exploring specialty branded boutique hotels. Many 38