FROSTBURG – Residents of Uhl and Welsh streets are rising in opposition to the proposed closing of the brick alley aside Main Street books, saying a bad traffic situation will only be made worse if the right-of-way is closed to accommodate a renovation project in the fire-gutted old Prichard Building on the alley’s other side.

Uhl Street resident Karen Sarles said a petition at Main Street Books, and one circulating, have garnered 25 signatures apiece.

As the first 21st century citizen petition drive in the Mountain City, the petition is available online as well, at http://www.petitiononline.com/alleyfb/petition.html.  It’s also on Facebook, and I presume if you know Facebook, you’ll know how to get to it.

Sarles said the issue involves public safety because it exacerbates already difficult street conditions.

The two-dozen homes of Uhl and Welsh currently have three access points: the alley in question – officially known as Alley 24 – and two very narrow streets, First and Uhl.

Closing Alley 24 to traffic leaves only two options, both of which are bad.

Uhl opens onto Main between the Eagles Club and Mountain City Café.  Pulling out to peer around parked cars can be a nightmare.  Pulling in is impossible if someone’s waiting to pull out.

To the west, First Street running parallel to Main carries tight two-way traffic to North Water.  Again, only one car at a time pulling out, unless you pull way over to the right behind the Gunter.

In defending the proposed closure at the January City Council meeting, Mayor Arthur Bond noted that Alley 24 would be little missed, because it is blind at its exit onto First.

Addressing the Council in opposition to the closure, Victoria Lane resident Bob Sweitzer said the alley provides a critical outlet to alleviate congestion on Main between Broadway and Water.  When he’s visiting his mother on First Street, Sweitzer said, he heads down the alley, carefully turns left, and escapes the traffic jam.

Residents of Uhl also value the option.

“We make use of it,” Sarles said of the alley.  “The other entrances and exits to this area, they’re both blind spots.”

As bad as it is when two cars squeeze space for one, Sarles said, it promises to get worse.  With the Lyric already seeking tenants and the Prichard Building eyed for residential units, more people will be living on Main and parking behind it.

“The plan is to put in more rentals,” Sarles said.  “We’ll have a lot more traffic coming through.”

Aside from traffic and safety concerns, Sarles said residents are upset that they were not notified of the public hearing the Council held last month, where Sweitzer spoke in opposition.  She said some residents of Welsh Street received notices from the city, but none on Uhl.

“I want better communication between the city and the residents,” she said.  “I would have gone to the meeting if I’d known about it.”

Despite such concerns, Sarles said she sympathizes with the plight of the building’s owners, Evergreen Associates, who told City officials they need the alley area for renovation access, and – most significantly – a fire-escape, which can’t open onto an active street.  Without the fire escape the two upper floors can’t be utilized for apartments.

Closing the alley, Evergreen President Brandon Reece wrote, “would make it more financially viable for the rebuilding of this building.”

Boosters also note that the closed area will feature bike racks.

Sarles said she did not want to harm Main Street redevelopment, but it’s a question of safety for the residents of Uhl and Welsh, and their quality of life.

In addition to traffic issues, Sweitzer questioned the transfer of public property to a private interest.  Even if the alley is not deeded, he said, it will effectively be ceded to the Prichard Building owner, at a cost of inconvenience to the public.

“You’re taking city property and turning it into private property,” he said.

Sarles said she plans to present the petitions to the Mayor and City Council before their 7 PM, Tuesday, February 16 work session at City Hall.

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Editor's note: [Friday, 05 February 2010 02:35]

As per the first Comment to this article [From another resident by Ben on Friday, 05 February 2010 01:07], it was requested that the link to the petition be changed to http://www.petitiononline.com/alleyfb/petition.html as this new on-line petition provides for including the signee's address as required.

Satisfied that this is a valid request, this has been done.

You may view the original petition at the following link:

http://www.petitiononline.com/alley24/