Executive Director Journey Gunderson issued a statement on Tuesday, confirming she will meet with the Jamestown City Council during its February 8 voting session.

Gunderson also responded to some concerns that were expressed during this week’s council meeting with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections. She said the NCC is willing to continue as the Ward 3 polling site if state authorities can confirm that this is legal. She explained the NCC received an advisory opinion last week directly from the New York State Board of Elections that using the NCC gift shop as polling site is prohibited because we have a liquor license.

That contradicts the County Board of Elections, which said the liquor license issue is only a factor of alcohol is being served in the same immediate area where voting is taking place, and that’s not been the case at the NCC.

Gunderson also said that the NCC is operating in accordance with keeping the former Gateway Train Station concourse open to the public, considering the gift shop is open to the public whenever it is open.

Gunderson noted that having the polling site at the Gift shop has been a significant disruption to the NCC business operations and safety protocols, which is why it is asking the Board of Elections to relocate the polling site.

“Since the train station concourse remains fully accessible to the public five days a week, year-round (seven days a week prior to COVID-19), we believe that we are operating in accordance with all agreements in regard to public access,” Gunderson said. “However, we are happy to request clarity from appropriate authorities in order to affirm that this is in full compliance.”

The Ward 3 polling site has been at the Gateway Train Station concourse since 2013 and the NCC agreed to allow it to continue to be there even after it took ownership in 2018.

Earlier this month the board of elections reached out to Jamestown City Officials asking them to help identify possible new locations for Ward 3 voters to vote. The request came after the Board of Elections were notified by NCC that it was no longer wanted to be a polling location.

Since 2013, all Ward 3 voters in Jamestown have voted inside the Gateway Train Station. The NCC took ownership the Train Station in 2018 and converted the center concourse into a gift shop, but still allowed voting to take place there for the past three years. But the NCC notified election officials last year that they must find a new polling site for voting for both the primaries in June, as well as the general election in November.

“[We] will insist that you find an alternate location in the future as it is a hardship going forward. It is not open for discussion,” the NCC said in an email to the Board of Elections last year.

However, County Election Commissioner Brian Abram said that under state law, a non profit-organization is required to provide a space for public elections and the final decision is not with the organization, but ultimately with the local board of elections.

“They could decline, but then again we have the authority to say that we would question their status of a nonprofit, because within the nonprofit status would be the ability for us to utilize the facility for voting,” Abram said during a recent interview with WRFA, adding, “But at this point, we’re asking for help from both the city and the comedy center for resolution.”

Prior to 2013, Ward 3 voting was at the Northwest Arena. But Abram said there were challenges with using the ice arena as a polling location and the Train station was more convenient and secure for voters.

“The foot traffic of the residents coming in and out for hockey and skating and other events made it somewhat difficult to have a private voting area secured for just the voters in Ward 3, so seeing a better opportunity was just down the road, we took advantage of that,” Abram said.

The Jamestown city council held a discussion on the issue after the Board of Elections notified the city it was seeking a potential new location. Also earlier this week, the NCC sent out a statement saying that it would be willing to host voting as a last resort, but it continues to hope that an alternative location will be used instead.

“By giving the Election Commission notice in May 2020, thirteen months prior to the need for a new polling site, it was hoped that there would be sufficient time to find a suitable location that works well for all concerned without affecting the Comedy Center’s visitor experience and retail operations,”the NCC said in its statement. “We hope the Election Commission will try to find alternative sites, including any sites previously used prior to the train station venue in 2012. However, if they are unable to find an alternative site, we would consider readdressing the issue.”

Since 2013 the designated hub and waiting area for the buses has been in front of the Gateway Train Station along W. Second St. But in June the hub was temporarily relocated to Pine Street in downtown Jamestown as the construction of the W. Second Street Public Piazza project took place in front of the train station, which is also now part of the newly opened National Comedy Center.

In August, just days before the CARTS hub was to go back to the train station, the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities said it would request the hub remain on Pine Street until a new, permanent location could be found.

Borrello said that effort is still ongoing and also clarified why a new location is being sought.

“Despite whether the National Comedy Center likes or dislikes the location of the CARTS hub, our responsibility at the County, first and foremost, is to our ridership. With this Piazza created – that the city was instrumental in wanting to create with the comedy center and which I think is a wonderful thing and will have a great impact on Chautauqua County – but with all those things going on in that area, that is no longer an ideal location for a hub,” Borrello told WRFA following the County Legislature’s Sept. 26 voting session.

One of the challenges with finding a new location is whether or not that would create problems with federal transportation funding that was used as the current CARTS hub. Nearly half of the $12 million Train Station renovation involved the use of funding from the Federal Transportation Authority (FTA). As a result, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi recently told WRFA and city the Jamestown City Council that moving the CARTS buses could  compromise the FTA funding that was received, since there really are no other transportation uses currently in place at the train station.

However, Gebbie Foundation Executive Director Greg Edwards (who also served as County Executive from 2006 through 2013) recently said in the Post-Journal that charter buses and a connection to the Riverwalk meet the transportation requirements. In addition, there is an effort to bring an excursion train service to Jamestown, though that project is still in the study and research phase.

It was Edwards who reportedly also first informed CARTS in March of this year that it would have to find a new location.

No new location has been announced for the CARTS hub and city officials have given the county until the middle of October to keep the temporary HUB at its present location along Pine Street.

The stretch of Pine Street in Downtown Jamestown that has been used as CARTS bus waiting area since June 2018.

JAMESTOWN – Chautauqua County plans to use the area of Pine St. in downtown Jamestown as the hub for its CARTS buses until further notice, but it has yet to make the formal request to the Jamestown City Council.

The Jamestown mayor’s office said County Department of Public Facilities director Brad Bentley verbally informed the city on Thursday, Aug. 30 that CARTS would like to use Pine Street between E. Third and Fourth Streets beyond Sept. 1 as its downtown hub.

CARTS, which is overseen by the county DPW, has been using the street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. since mid June to accommodate the Piazza construction project that  had taken place at its regular hub along W. Second St. in front of the Gateway Train Station, now part of the National Comedy Center.

Because the temporary hub along Pine Street includes eight downtown parking spots, the city council had to approve temporary parking restrictions for that area. But those restrictions expired on Sept. 1, meaning that any further use of that roadway by CARTS must be formally approved by the City Council.

“Mr. Bentley did contact the city [Thursday] and verbally informed the city that it was the intention of the county to seek additional time on Pine Street while the county explores options for CARTS,” said Matthew Hanley, executive assistant to Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi. “Mr. Bentley was subsequently informed that request would have to be submitted to the city in writing and would need formal approval by the City Council.”

In addition to Hanley’s comments, city council President Marie Carrubba also said that formal action would have to be taken for the parking restrictions along Pine Street to be extended.

“Any change to the original resolution would have to be in writing, approved by the appropriate committees, and voted on by the City Council,” Carrubba confirmed in an email to WRFA on Aug. 31.

One of the several temporary signs that sits in front of each parking spot along Pine Street to notify motorists it is a designated area for CARTS.

The City Council isn’t scheduled to meet again until Monday, Sept. 10 when it holds its first work session of September. Typically the council does not take action during work sessions, though a special voting session can be scheduled with enough advance notice to the public.

On Friday, WRFA spoke with Bentley and he said the county has asked the city to extend the length of time for CARTS to use Pine St. until further notice so that a permanent solution on the CARTS bus terminal for downtown can be made. He said the county wants to find a location that can be permanent and wont create confusion or inconveniences for those who use CARTS.

Because of the Second St. location being in close proximity to the NCC and Northwest Arena, there is the likelihood that the street will sometimes be closed down due to special events in that area, meaning future temporary relocations would have to take place. To avoid that, officials say they want to find a new, permanent location that won’t require adjustments due to nearby street closures.

During the W. Second St. piazza construction, the Coach USA bus stop in front of the NCC was also temporarily moved to an area of E. Fourth St. between Prendergast and Pine Streets, but has since moved back and as of last word, will remain in front of the NCC.

CARTS has used the area of W. Second Street as its downtown hub since February 2013 following the completion of the $12 million Train Station renovation project.  Part of the funding for the train station renovation was covered by $6 million in federal transportation funding, with the understanding the property would see some type of public transportation use.  Since no passenger trains currently utilize the train station, it was believed the property could meet the transportation usage requirements by having CARTS and Coach USA stationed near the property.

Before 2013, the waiting area for CARTS was at Baker Park between W. Fourth and Fifth Streets in the city.

That from the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities Director Brad Bentley, whose office oversees the CARTS operation. Bentley tells WRFA the county has asked the city to extend the length of time the buses will be using Pine St. until further notice so that a permanent solution on the CARTS bus terminal for downtown can be made.

Carts has been using the stretch of Pine Street between E. Third and E. Fourth Streets in Downtown Jamestown since June because of the street construction work that had to take place at the previous hub location along W. Second St. in front of the Gateway Train Station, which is part of the National Comedy Center (NCC). That project involved redeveloping a stretch of W. Second St. in order to create a Public Piazza for events in front of the NCC.

As part of the temporary relocation, the Jamestown City Council had to change the parking rules for the eight parking spaces along the east side of Pine St. that the CARTS buses would have to utilize. However, that change was to be in effect only until the end of August, when the construction of W. Second St. piazza project would be completed, allowing the CARTS hub to be moved back to its previous location.

As reported by WRFA in March, CARTS was required to find a new temporary hub in the downtown due to the construction and closure that took place in front of the NCC and Gateway Train Station along W. Second St., with the understanding that it would return to the NCC location at the end of August.

During the W. Second St. piazza construction, the Coach USA bus stop in front of the NCC was also temporarily moved to an area of E. Fourth St. between Prendergast and Pine Streets, but has since moved back and as of last word, will remain in front of the NCC.

WRFA reached out to city officials Friday afternoon but no word yet on whether or not the City Council will have to meet again to extend the parking rules changes beyond Sept. 1.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

JAMESTOWN – The National Comedy Center opens this Wednesday, Aug. 1 and all the last minute details are falling into place.

As part of the NCC opening, several special guests are expected to make their way to Jamestown this week, starting Monday with an appearance by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who will announce nearly $89 million in funding has been secured in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill for the Department of Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund. The funding supports historic preservation and economic development projects around the state, including the NCC, which is using Jamestown’s Gateway Train Station as one of its buildings. The train station renovation relied on a variety of funding sources, including the one being highlighted Monday by Gillibrand.

Meanwhile, NCC Executive Director Journey Gunderson recently told WRFA the NCC staff has been in “sprint mode” for the past several weeks, working to make sure everything is ready to go once the facility opens on the first day of the 2018 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival.

This year’s comedy festival will feature appearances and performances by Lilly Tomlin, Amy Schumer, Dan Aykroyd, Lewis Black, and many, many more.

Some of those shows are sold out, while tickets remain for many others, including those that specifically focus on the legacy and comedy of Lucille Ball.

To learn more about the NCC and the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival events, visit ComedyCenter.org.

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY

The Downtown Jamestown Gateway Train Station

JAMESTOWN, NY – The acquisition of the Gateway Train Station (formerly “Erie-Lackawanna Train Station“) and its surrounding property by the National Comedy Center in the Summer of 2017 was the culmination of a 25-year renovation and development effort that featured a combination of public and private investment, as well as coordinated efforts on several local fronts.

That’s according to Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who provided WRFA with his timeline of events going back more than 25 years to help clarify any confusion over the project, as well as to highlight the numerous steps involving the city’s acquisition, development, and eventual disposition of historic property.

Teresi is familiar with the history of the development of the structure because prior to being elected mayor in 1999, he had served as the city’s Development Director throughout the 1990s, meaning he was there in 1992 when the dilapidated structure first came on the city’s radar.

1992 – JURA ACQUIRES TRAIN STATION PROPERTY

According to Teresi, in March 1992 the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA) purchased the train station from the property’s previous owners, John Evan with about $120,000 in funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The mayor said even at that time, the train station was in poor condition and would have required significant money for restoration and development.

A photo from Pinterest shows how the train station appeared prior to redevelopment

It’s worth noting that around the same time JURA was working to acquire the train station, a group of local stakeholders, including the Arts Council for Chautauqua County, were developing a concept to make Jamestown a national comedy attraction, building off the Lucille Ball connection and the recent success of the Festival of New Comedy at the time.

According to Teresi, the project being developed was a “National Comedy Center and Hall of Fame,” with the train station serving as a possible location. However, none of the local foundations at the time felt confident enough in the project to support it, and it eventually was shelved and the celebration of Lucy moved in another direction over the next several years.

Meanwhile, JURA maintained possession of the property for the next 14 years as officials worked to identify and secure enough funding to begin the restoration effort.  During that period the train station was placed on both the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

2005 – MAJOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT LEADS TO REBIRTH OF LOCAL LANDMARK

According to the mayor, in 2005 JURA was able to secure a total of $6 million through the federal transportation bill that was secured with the help of Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, along with Rep. Brian Higgins.

A media release from Congressman Higgins at the time says the number was actually $2.6 million, although that could have been funding for just one year, while Teresi’s figures were the funding totals over multiple years.

The funding was the leverage needed to help raise other money from not just the state, but local funders as well, including the Gebbie Foundation.

2008 – CITY ACQUIRES TRAIN STATION, THEN PASSES ON NEWLY CREATED FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION

In May 2008, the ownership of the train station was transferred from JURA to the city of Jamestown at no cost, which allowed the city to raise more funding for development that it would have been unable to qualify for otherwise. That year the city also entered a property management agreement with the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation (DJDC).

According to Teresi, the city felt that it could maximize renovation funding by utilizing the federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program, but only for-profit entities are eligible to participate in that program. They mayor said that in April 2010 the property was transferred to a spinoff for profit-entity called Downtown Jamestown Revitalization, LLC (DJR), which was created in 2004.  DJR was be controlled by a board of directors that included the Mayor of Jamestown, the DJDC board president, and the president of the Gebbie Foundation. Each voting member also had a designee to act in their place when necessary. The designees were the city development director, the Gebbie Foundation executive director, and another board member from DJDC.

Once incorporated, DJR served as a holding company for the train station and would be able to apply for and then sell off HTCs to investors to help with the redevelopment effort. In order to avoid paying taxes on a property, the DJR received a tax abatement from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) that would continue during the lifetime of DJR ownership.

2010 – DJR ESTABLISHES PLAN TO DEVELOP TRAIN STATION ONCE RENOVATION IS COMPLETE

Congressman Brian Higgins (second from left) and Sen. Charles Schumer (right of Higgins) were both in Jamestown in 2010 to welcome the start of renovation work for the long-dilapidated train station. Mayor assistant Matthew Hanley (far left) and then-city councilman Vince DeJoy (far right) are also pictured. (Image from Higgins.House.gov)

Once in possession of the train station property, DJR initiated its plan for how it would eventually use the property. That plan involved marketing the soon-to-be renovated train station to private development. But because it participated in the HTC program, DJR was required under law to maintain ownership of the property for at least five years from the time the HTCs were sold to investment groups.  The plan was to have DJR identify developers and, if one was found before the five-year requirement was up, it would lease the train station to the developer with an option to transfer ownership.

Teresi said at the time DJR developed its plan, it didn’t have the National Comedy Center in mind, considering it hadn’t even been conceptualized yet by the officials with the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center for Comedy. Instead, DJR hoped to have developers come forward and present plans until a viable plan was presented.

By August 2010, enough money had been raised to begin the train station renovation and ground was broken. In October 2012, the renovation was complete and the ribbon was cut on the new facility.

2010-2012 – LUCY DESI FINDS SUCCESS, ANNOUNCES ‘FOUR PILLARS OF COMEDY’

During the time period between 2010 and 2012, the Lucy-Desi Center had transitioned to a new board and new executive director (Journey Gunderson). The new leadership worked to re-energize the organization and put it on a new path. As a result, it developed a strategic plan featuring its Legacy of Laughter “four pillars,” which included the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, a comedic arts education program, comedy film festival, and the establishment of the first national comedy museum and hall of fame.

Both 2011 and 2012 were successful years for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and in the fall of 2012, Gunderson and Lucy-Desi Center board president Tom Benson shared their plan for developing a national comedy attraction with the Jamestown City Council and mentioned the train station as one of the possible locations.

In January 2013, the DJDC merged with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and former DJDC executive director Lee Harkness was hired by DJR as the train station general manager. His role was to find rentals, plan events, and find other uses for the space to help generate enough revenue to pay utility costs and other overhead, while DJR continued to seek out development opportunities.

2014 and 2015 – NCC SEES SIGNIFICANT FUNDING, GROUND BREAKING

NCC Executive Director Journey Gunderson (far left) and Melissa Rivers (third from left) helps shovel dirt at the groundbreaking for the National Comedy Center in 2015. (image from AP)

In December 2014, the NCC was awarded $1.5 million by the 2014 NYS Regional Economic Development Council. At the time, a description of NCC project said it is comprised of the adaptive reuse of both the train station in and a public utility / former trolley station building, along with construction of a new connecting building on the corner of Washington and 2nd Street to provide the necessary total square feet of exhibit space.

In March 2015, the NCC purchases the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities former trolley substation at the corner of Washington and W. 2nd Street for $130,000 from the city of Jamestown.

In July of that year, a groundbreaking for the NCC takes place during the 2015 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. In December the NCC received $2.025 million from the 2015 NYS Regional Economic Development Council.

2016 – NCC SIGNS LEASE AGREEMENT TO TAKE OVER OPERATION OF TRAIN STATION

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (left) listens to National Comedy Center director Journey Gunderson explain the mission and vision of the center, which is being built in Jamestown. DiNapoli was in Jamestown in October 2015 to tour the location for the National Comedy Center and learn about various economic development projects in the city.

In February 2016, the NCC enters a lease agreement with DJR and moves into the Gateway Train Station.  The lease included zero dollars in rent and in exchange, the NCC would assume all operations of the property, including utilities and insurance, along with any needed structural repairs as well as scheduling events and activities. The mayor said the lease also included an option to transfer the property once the HTC five-year waiting period is over. Because of the federal funding tied to the project, the terms of the lease say the NCC must also keep the train station’s center concourse open to the public and available for public transportation usage.

Once the NCC takes over operation, it decides to not keep the position of Train Station General Manager when assuming operations and Harkness is terminated.

At the end of 2016, the NCC is awarded another $834,000 by Empire State Development. The additional funding follows awards of $2.025 million in 2015 and $1.5 million in 2014, bringing the total amount awarded by New York State to approximately $4.3 million. $600,000 of the awarded funds from Empire State Development are for continued development of the Center and adjacent Comedy Center Park, and $234,000 of the grant dollars are Market NY tourism capital funds.

2017 – NCC RAISES NEEDED FUNDING TO FINISH DEVELOPMENT, ASSUMES CONTROL OF TRAIN STATION

In February 2017 The IDA extends the PILOT agreement with DJR for one year to give the NCC an additional year to transfer the train station over to the non-profit.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY on Aug. 3, 2017.

By April 2017, the NCC received a $3 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and a $5 million grant from New York State which was unveiled by Governor Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State Address as part of the Buffalo Billion II program.

By May of 2017 the NCC secured all funding for its capital budget with the closing of a Federal New Markets Tax Credit transaction that provided the Project with approximately $5 million of equity funding. The $8 million from a month earlier provided the leverage that was required as the New Markets Tax Credit closing was predicated on having all other necessary funding in place.

With enough funding secure and the 5-year HTC waiting period over, Teresi said the DJR board officially transferred ownership of the train station property over to the NCC at no cost in June 2017. The property value was listed as $500,000, but Teresi said because of the financial contributions the NCC had made between utility costs, insurance, and building upkeep – in addition to the NCC serving as an economic driver for other downtown development projects, the DJR board gave the property to NCC at no cost.

The transfer was then finalized in August and with the property transfer complete and the DJR plan from 2010 realized, the for-profit corporation is no longer needed and dissolves.

Despite the culmination of more than 25 years of effort to renovate and develop the train station, the seven years of work by DJR and its board spent toward finding a viable project for it, and the amount of fundraising required by the NCC to realize its vision and own the train station property, there was no public announcement by mayor Teresi, nor any media release announcing the property transfer or dissolution.

2018 – GRAND OPENING OF NCC TO TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY will open on Aug. 1, 2018.

In April 2018, the NCC announced its grand opening will take place on Aug. 1, 2018.

The Center, which comes with a combined cost of $35 million between the money invested in the Train Station, as well as the NCC build out,  is expected to attract more than 100,000 annual visitors and have a $23 million annual stabilized economic impact on the region.

WRFA plans to tell more about the history of the National Comedy Center’s development in the summer of 2018 when we talk with NCC board chair Tom Benson.

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY will open on Aug. 1, 2018. It gained ownership of the Gateway Train Station  (right portion of the facility) in August 2017.

JAMESTOWN – The National Comedy Center (NCC) has been in ownership of the Gateway Train Station property on W. Second St. since August 2017, but it was never publicly announced.

The news of the change in ownership was made public on the “Jamestown, NY” Facebook group page by New York City resident and Jamestown native Tom Andolora.

Andolora, who still owns property in the city, made a public post Wednesday pointing out that the NCC recently acquired the train station property at no cost from Downtown Jamestown Revitalization, LCC – the corporation that had been managing and overseeing the facility since the start of 2013 when its renovation was completed.

WRFA has verified that the property acquisition did take place in August 2017 at no cost to the NCC, via the online Chautauqua County parcel map, which provides a record of property ownership as well as the cost of property acquisitions.

Andolora is concerned that the property transfer took place in August 2017, yet it was never publicly announced that the transfer was being considered or even took place once the Downtown Jamestown Revitalization board voted on the matter.

Prior to the NCC acquiring the property, it had been leasing the train station since Jan. 1, 2016. During that time it also assumed operation of the train station, though it didn’t own the actual property.

Andolora said that while he supports the comedy center and wants to see it succeed, he said he also felt there should have been more discussion and transparency before the train station property was given to the NCC.

“I don’t believe this has ever been reported in public,” Andolora wrote. “The Train Station, which used 4 or 5 million dollars (or more! The total cost was 11 million) of public taxpayer money to restore, was handed over, for free, to the Comedy Center. A five million dollar building which was restored for the public with public money was given away. I find this very troubling. The Comedy Center paid nothing for this beautiful building.”

Of the federal funding provided, the project received $4.5 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, funding secured by Congressman Brian Higgins. That funding is typically earmarked for transportation projects across the country. While the NCC is not a transportation project, officials have said the center concourse of the train station will remain open to the public and could eventually serve as a visitor welcome center and access point to future excursion train service.

In addition to the Train Station property, the NCC also acquired the former Jamestown BPU substation at the corner of W. Second and Washington Streets in early 2015, but paid $130,000 for that property.

The assessed value of the train station property is $500,000.

The NCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, meaning it will not pay property taxes for any of the property it owns.  It is scheduled to open on Aug. 1, 2018.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council will hold a special voting session June 11 to address two matters that are of a pressing concern for the downtown.

The council will act on changing the parking rules for 8 parking spaces along the east side of Pine Street between Third and Fourth Streets.

That section of road is where the county’s CARTS buses will be using as a central downtown hub through the end of August.

As first reported by WRFA in March, CARTS was required to find a new temporary hub in the downtown due to the construction and closure that is taking place in front of the National Comedy Center and Gateway Train Station along W. Second Street.

As WRFA reported last week, the CARTS buses have been using the area of Cherry Street between W. Third and W. Fourth Streets as a temporary waiting area, although that’s created some issues with the Hotel Jamestown and its residential entrance area along Cherry St. As a result, they were looking into another temporary location with Pine St. being the location city and county officials have agreed upon.

Under the resolution that will go before the city council, the Pine St. parking spaces (which are located in the 2-hour courtesy zone of the downtown – see map below) will not be available for public use from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in order to allow the buses to park and pick up or drop off passengers. The parking rules will remain in effect until Sept. 1, when the downtown CARTS hub will return to the area of W. Second Street.

Meanwhile, the council will also act on a resolution to a contract with Ahlstrom-Schaeffer, which was the low bidder for lighting work on the W. Second Street public piazza. Funding from the project comes from a state grant the city received earlier this year. Because officials want to have that work completed before the end of July, they felt it was important to act on the matter sooner rather than later.

The June 11 voting session will begin at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers will be open to the public, although there will not be an opportunity for public comment.

Michele Westphal, CARTS Senior Project Coordinator, tells WRFA that CARTS buses are currently using the area of Cherry Street between Third and Fourth Streets as a temporary waiting area, although that’s created some issues with the Hotel Jamestown and its residential entrance area along Cherry St. As a result, they are looking into another temporary location and Westphal says that will likely be on Pine St between Third and Fourth streets in the area of the county social services intake office.

Westphal said both County Public Facilities Director George Spanos and City Public Works Director Jeff Lehman have agreed to that location, although CARTS is also seeking input from Lynn Development, which owns the Spain Building on the northwest corner of 3rd and Pine.

The CARTS hub was forced to find a new location in May due to the Piazza construction that is taking place on W. Second St. near the National Comedy Center. Prior to the construction the buses had used the area in front of the Gateway Train Station as its waiting area and central hub for the city.

Westphal adds that once the Piazza construction is complete the CARTS buses will resume using the area in front of the Gateway Train Station as a central hub.