ONE SPACE downtown remains for a doctor, Dr. T.R. Fritsche.

Although New Ulm store managers may still feel the need for more parking downtown, two recent moves have provided about 40 additional spaces for shoppers.

Herbergers is leasing a lot behind the store from Dr. Howard Vogel to provide 34 parking spaces for Herbergers customers. That lot previously was used by patients.

And the move of several doctors from downtown to the medical center has meant five additional stalls on the street. The spaces were previously rented annually and reserved for doctors.

One doctor’s stall, the one in the city hall parking lot, will remain reserved. That one is used by Dr. Ted Fritsche,eye specialist, who has remained in downtown offices.

THERE HAVE been some comments that parking seems more readily available downtown now that the doctors have moved to the medical center.

However, Rod Dittrich of Pinks Department Store, 16 N. Minnesota, said he hasn’t noticed this.

“I still think we’re short of parking spaces downtown,” Dittrich said. “Those coming from out of town to see the doctors are coming downtown to shop anyway,90per cent of the time. Our parking lots at peak times are full.”

BOB LOHMAN of Herbergers, 110 N. Minnesota, said he hopes more parking will be available due to the doctors’ move.

He said Herbergers is adding spaces behind the store and Herbergers customers will get a certain amount of free parking there. Customers will be able to use the two back entrances to the store, one of which will get a new sign and new lighting.

Lohman plans for a man to be in attendance at the lot. Cars will enter from the alley and exit onto German Street.

“We think the city still needs off-street parking especially at certain times of the year – for example, summer, Monday nights, Saturdays,” Lohman said. “Even with the doctors leaving downtown, we feel they’re going to bring more customers into town with the new facility.

“As space becomes available for parking, it’s necessary to pick it up if we are to keep businesses downtown, the city should acquire it. We’re very fortunate in New Ulm. We have a good healthy downtown, but we’ve got to have parking. They like to be as close as possible to where they’re shopping.”

THE CITY’S latest purchase for off-street parking was two lots at the corner of Fourth N. and Minnesota, where the Bode Brothers feed store is located.

But the city won’t take over the property until Sept. 1, 1976. Cost of the lots was $49,200.

The council had authorized negotiation for three lots at Third N. and German for a city lot but City Manager Richard Salvati said one of the three owners is not interested in selling.

“It wouldn’t be efficient to develop it on a partial basis,”‘ he said of the lot at Third N. and German.“If there is any change of heart on the part of the landowner we would review the situation and bring it to the council.”

Salvati said the city also has a long-standing desire to acquire 112 lots next to the city-owned property now used as the German Street metered parking lot and leased parking.

If all seven lots on German between Center and First N. were city-owned there could be redevelopment as a single lot, Salvati said.

NOT COUNTING the Bode lot, the city has five city parking lots with a total of 302metered and leased spaces.

Purchase and development of the lots has been financed from parking meter revenue at a total cost of about $300,000.Included in that total is a lot leased from St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for $1 which has 55 leased spaces.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Nov. 29, 1974