Part of First Street to be no parking zone
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | October 11, 2016 5:10 PM
Whitefish City Council Oct. 3 approved a no parking zone for the section of East First Street that is closest to the city’s under construction parking garage.
City Manager Chuck Stearns said a traffic impact analysis for the effects of the parking structure recommended the change.
“The street will see increased traffic for access to the parking garage,” he said. “There is a lot of street congestion there at Baker Avenue.”
Cars will enter and exit the parking structure from East First Street.
Only about four to six parking spaces will be lost with the change, Stearns noted, when the street re-opens next spring.
The no parking zone will run on East First Street for about a half-block from Baker Avenue east to the alley.
The change will allow for three lanes of traffic on the street. Two of those lanes will be turn lanes from East First Street westbound onto Baker Avenue.
Construction on the parking garage and City Hall is expected to be complete next spring.
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