A temporary solution for a community headache

    As many come and go from Leavenworth, there may have been attention drawn to the construction work being done at the corner of Highway 2 and Chumstick Highway. Next to the Bavarian Bakery, a parking lot is being paved which should help alleviate some of the parking stress. Property owner, Tom Lin, is operating the paid parking lot in that location, according to City Administrator, Joel Walinski.
    "It has been an ongoing discussion with the city. Parking is a big issue in Leavenworth, I have the vacant lot and so the whole purpose is to create more parking," said Lin.
    The parking lot is striving for 88 stalls. Lin is pushing for the lot to be ready in the next few weeks, just in time for the influx of summer vacationers piling in. The site of the parking lot is walking distance to downtown Leavenworth, Cascade High School and public transportation stop, Link Park and Ride.  
    The entrance of the parking lot is between Blue Spirits Distillery and Cascade Auto Parts and the parking lot will be behind the auto shop. To exit the parking lot, cars will the come out on Chumstick and only be able to make a right turn.
    "The reason for this is that we want to stay away from the intersection to avoid causing traffic," said Lin.
    The lot is privately operated, it is not a city lot. Lin stated that the goal of the temporary parking lot isn't to make money, but provide a new parking option. He is ideally hoping to use some form of a phone application as the way for individuals to pay for parking.