MOORHEAD (KFGO-AM) - The Moorhead City Council says it needs more information before making a decision and has decided to have a subcommittee work on a request from Fargo to use city owned parking space at the Moorhead Center Mall and a shuttle bus route to connect the two downtown's.
Council members say they like the concept but are worried the plan could take away parking spots, hurting business.
Moorhead Economic Development Authority Director, Matt Maslowski, says it would be good for business. He's talked to an as yet unidentified developer working on what Maslowski calls a "significant downtown development project." The developer calls the parking/shuttle bus plan "pro economic development" which will bring more traffic downtown.
Fargo needs the additional parking because of the impending loss of the 450 parking spaces in the Civic Center lot because of construction. Most of those that would use the mall parking are Fargo city employees. 30% to 40% live in Moorhead. Fargo would cover the cost of the shuttle and rides would be free.
The subcommitttee will be made up of Moorhead and Fargo city officials and members of Moorhead's business community. It will report back to the city council later this month.