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The Bainbridge Downtown Development Authority Board met in the City Council chambers Thursday morning for their monthly meeting. The Authority first heard a monthly financial report from DDA  Executive Director Amanda Glover. The report listed $388,000 in the Authority’s general operating account. Glover also mentioned the DDA paying out for a facade grant for $2,000 in the financials.

She also told the Authority Board of plans to paint a mural on the concrete dumpster enclosure adjacent to the riverwalk and courthouse. Other items discussed included a parking survey and plans to remove several crepe myrtle trees from around downtown.

Glover spoke to the Post-Searchlight about these afterwards in an interview. Regarding the trees, Glover stated that the trees on East Water Street have already been removed and replanted with Allee elms, and this coming Monday, they plan on removing and replacing the remaining crepe myrtles.

As for the parking survey, Glover explained that while they have not made any moves regarding the data from the survey, but one thing it brought to light was employees and business owners using parking on the square.

“The bottom line is we’re really just trying to encourage business owners and employees to utilize the off-street parking lots,” she said. “They’re public spaces, but they’re really intended for customers, people coming downtown to eat, shop, the type of thing.” Glover added that, according to a formula created by the National Main Street Organization, one parking space being taken up for eight hours a day, calculated to the remainder of the year, could result in a loss of $24,000 a year, per space.

“We’re not saying it just to be ugly, there is intent, and we want it to be most available for the customers, the people that come and frequent downtown.”

Additionally, several new businesses moving in downtown were mentioned, including a new bookstore, a Christian gift store, and a new gun store.