LANDRUM– Due to growing demand and a busy downtown area, the City of Landrum has paved a public parking lot downtown on property leased from Operation Hope. The lot was paved on Nov. 23 “just in time for the holiday rush,” according to City Administrator Rich Caplan.

Caplan says the parking lot adds 21 additional parking spaces for downtown shoppers in time for the holidays. The lot is located a half block south of Rutherford Street between Church and Shamrock Avenues.

After two years of contract negotiations, city council approved the final contract for the lease with Operation Hope in May at their monthly city council meeting.

The lease agreement requires the city to pay one dollar annually for the duration of the 20-year lease. Six spaces will be reserved for the employees and customers of Operation Hope, according to Caplan, and the city was responsible for setting up parking signs differentiating employee from general parking spaces in addition to patrolling the lot.

According to Caplan, the city spent $12,000 for paving and approximately $2,000 to replace a power pole with a stronger pole through Duke Energy. This had to be done in order to proceed with paving the lot after first graveling it. Caplan said additional funds were used for signage and landscaping around the lot.

Business owners in Landrum had raised concerns about parking along Trade Street outside storefronts before the parking lot was finished, saying business owners are not allowed to park in visitor spots along the downtown corridor in order to free up spaces designated for residents, tourists and store customers.