MURAL WOULD COST PARKING SPOTS

April 28, 2000 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL) — Author: Harry Hitzeman

A plan to paint a 1,260-square- foot mural on the south side of Sullivan's Steakhouse has downtown merchants uneasy because it could result in a loss of three parking spaces.

Under the plan, proposed by Naperville's Century Walk Corp., three 14-by-30-foot scenes depicting the city in the 1930s and '40s would be painted by artist Dodi Mondero, at a cost of $20,000. They will include scenes from the Edward Hospital sanitarium, Centennial Beach and other city locations.

Currently in front of the mural site at the northwest corner of Chicago Avenue and Main Street are three regular parking spaces and one handicapped spot.

Under the Century Walk proposal, one space would be eliminated and the remaining three converted into handicapped slots.

"We're all trying to do what's best for downtown and we need input from everybody," said W. Brand Bobosky, chairman of the Century Walk, a nonprofit corporation that puts statues, murals and other artworks in and around downtown.

Bobosky said the three-panel mural is best viewed from far away, and that's why Century Walk officials want the parking changed.

Changes in the downtown parking configuration must be approved by the city.

Even if the changes are rejected, the Bobosky hopes the mural will be painted by mid-June.

Both on- and off-street parking is at a premium in downtown Naperville.

The $6.7 million, 566-space parking deck off Van Buren Avenue will not be completed until the 2001 Christmas shopping season.

"I think it's difficult to look at any of these parking issues without looking at all of them," said Bill Esser, president of the Central Area Naperville Development Organization.

Bobosky hopes to have the mural painted by mid-June. It will be the third downtown public mural.

Other murals are located on the side of The Lantern, 8 W. Chicago Ave., and Ellman's Music Center, 103. S. Main St.
     

Section: NEWS — Page: 11