Proposed 292-Space Parking Garage Receives Concerns and Praise from Downtown Winter Haven Business Owners
by James Coulter
A proposed parking garage for Downtown Winter Haven has received mixed reactions from local business owners, with some praising the additional parking spaces and others raising concerns about accessibility and timeliness.
At their regular meeting on Mon. Nov. 24, Winter Haven city commissioners considered an unsolicited proposal for a 292-space parking structure planned to be built at the northeast corner of 3rd Street SW and Ave C SW in downtown Winter Haven.
The 4-story parking lot would be built on land owned by Urban Action, LLC at an estimated $23,224 per space, with a total cost of $10,217,496 once the developer transfers the fee simple title to the city. The timeline presented calls for 10 months from approval to completion: 3 months for design and 7 months for construction.
The structure has been proposed to accommodate the south-central downtown area, which has recently experienced growth and development with six new restaurants, two new 100-unit six-story apartment buildings, a craft brewery, and a new Southeastern University campus.
However, many residents and business owners spoke during public comments to raise concerns about the proposed parking facility.
One resident, Beth Coone, mentioned how mobility‑impaired residents, including her husband, struggle to reach businesses because handicapped parking is too far from many storefronts, and she inquired about the accessibility of this new structure.
Jessie Scubna, owner of Jessie’s Lounge, urged the commission not to rush approval, calling for more time for public comment on a proposal that would use taxpayer funds.
“Are we going to rush this through in two weeks? You are not giving people enough time to weigh in on this, and it’s not fair,” she said. “All I am asking is that you give it a little more time and give everyone more time to weigh in on it. $10 million is a lot of money, and it’s taxpayer money.”
Carl Cooling, a business owner for 33 years, noted low use of the city’s current parking garage at Avenue A NW (about 35 percent occupancy by his estimate) and blamed poor lighting and perceived safety for deterring parkers, including customers and employees for his own business.
However, many residents were more than welcoming of the new structure. Paul Nunez of Lucille’s American Cafe welcomed more parking, while Mike Lee of Laugh Out Loud Lounge supported a garage but asked for guarantees it would remain public rather than privately leased.
“I support any amount of money the city spends on any kind of parking,” Nunez said.
City staff will address the questions and present responses at the next commission meeting scheduled for Mon. Dec. 8, when commissioners will vote on the proposal.
