Business Owners Concerned About Parking Changes on Barret Avenue
Business owners along Barret Avenue expressed surprise upon learning that a proposal to add a bike lane is being considered for the corridor. They shared their concerns with WHAS11, revealing they first became aware of this potential change during a meeting held last Tuesday.
Louisville Metro Public Works mentioned that the meeting was a follow-up to a community gathering in December 2023. According to the official website of Louisville Metro, the previous event aimed to facilitate discussions with residents about safety and quality of life improvements along the corridor.
The website features a link to a presentation and survey. Social media comments suggest that Public Works is aware of an issue with the link.
Currently, the Louisville Metro Department of Transportation is conducting a survey to gather input on the planned repaving and restriping of Barret Avenue this year. The survey outlines options for changes from the intersection of East Broadway and Barret Avenue down to where Rufer Avenue meets Barret Avenue.
“This effort builds on the December 2023 community discussion, where residents shared their experiences and hopes for the corridor,” the department stated in a recent newsletter.
The main concern among business owners is the potential conversion of parking spaces on the east side of the road into a bike lane. Casey Brinley, owner of Goldheart Stones and Such, voiced his worries. He noted that while he understands the need for bike lanes, Barret Avenue is already a densely populated street with heavy traffic and numerous restaurants.
“I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I think it’s going to hurt our businesses a lot,” Brinley said. “We’re short for parking. That’s what we were hoping they would tell us, ‘Hey, we’re giving you more parking and maybe a crosswalk, maybe a street light.’ Those are the things we’ve been asking for for years.”
Brinley has operated his business on Barret Avenue for nearly eight years and did not attend the meeting, learning about it through his neighbors.
At Grady Goods, owner Jae Grady closed his shop an hour early to attend the meeting. He recounted how he only found out about the event after speaking with a neighbor.
“If I hadn’t walked out here and seen Mel sitting out here talking to Sarah from Barrett Babes and said, ‘Hey, I saw you guys out here and just came out and say hi.’ Sarah said, ‘Are you going to the meeting tonight?’ I said, ‘What meeting?'” Grady said. “That was the first I heard about it, and it was three hours later, so I closed my store earlier that day so I could be at the meeting.”
Public Works had advertised the meeting a week before the event, including a flyer. Business owners estimate that the proposal could remove about 31 parking spots from 25 businesses along Barret Avenue.
“For anybody who does come here on a regular basis, it’s already apparent that it’s difficult to park here. To lose that amount of parking, it is going to push people further into the neighborhood to park, in front of houses,” Grady said. “It happens at the detriment of everyone else in the neighborhood.”
Phoebe Haverstick, who spent Sunday shopping along Barret, expressed her support for alternative transportation methods.
“It’s one of my favorite places to shop,” Haverstick said. “I’m all for finding different ways to get around without using cars. I think it actually encourages you to go to more places as well if you park further away.”
Voting in the survey is open for two weeks. There are two changes that can be voted on: the addition of a two-way bike lane from the East Broadway and Barret Avenue intersection to East Breckenridge Street.
The planning process for changes to the Barret Avenue corridor is expected to conclude in the summer.
►
Stay up-to-date with more stories like this by downloading the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, or visit our Facebook page or X feed.
