We have a jewel in the heart of downtown Middlebury, a parcel of land behind the library, which we can do whatever we wish with. It could be a river walk, condos, restaurants, playground, park, a beautiful entrance to Middlebury seen from the bridge. It could be a magnet, a focus, to bring people to the shops, museum, restaurants, library of our Main Street. New enterprises in this parcel would add to our grand list.
I write as a member of my age group (65-100), which is rapidly growing in numbers. We need nearby parking in order to support local businesses, to get to the library, the stores, restaurants. Older tourists, young families, disabled people, others need easy access to Main Street.
We need a parking garage, tucked into the hillside, two or even three stories, rising to the level of the present parking lot, with an elevator, thereby enlarging that lot and adding a number of parking spaces. The exterior could have greenery and murals. It need not be ugly.
Without parking, Main Street is in jeopardy and enterprise in the new parcel cannot flourish.
Betty Thurber, Middlebury