News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A wayfinding sign in Alpena informs motorists about parking in the downtown area. The Alpena Downtown Development Authority is working on its long-term strategic plan, but paid parking is not expected to be a high priority in the near future.

ALPENA — Paid parking and the potential purchase of the former Decorative Panels International plant will be just a couple of the topics discussed during a strategic planning session of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority board next week.

The issue of paid parking in downtown Alpena rears its head every handful of years. With last year’s expansion of the DDA district, parking could become an issue in the future.

However, Anne Gentry, DDA executive director, said that, right now, she doesn’t believe paid parking is the top priority for the DDA, though it could be considered again down the road.

First, she said, the city must perform a parking study, especially as the dynamics of the downtown change.

“In 2019, there was a lot of emphasis on paid parking, but I don’t think that issue is going to rise to the top this time,” Gentry said. “I don’t think we really know what we need for parking downtown, yet. Maybe we need a parking study, because so much has changed downtown. Omni offices are moving out of downtown, the new cinema has added people downtown, the Fresh Palate closed, and we just really don’t have a grasp on what we need right now or moving forward.”

The Fresh Palate, a popular eatery in the Center Building on 2nd Avenue, closed last month.

DPI, a major Alpena employer, closed in February, putting more than 150 people out of work.

Gentry said making the DPI property a subsection of downtown may seem like a pipedream, but officials still should consider it.

She said the DDA may not have the capacity to purchase the old plant, but possibly the city or economic development firm Target Alpena could.

Gentry said that, during long-term planning, all options and ideas should be considered, and that includes the future of DPI, which is located just on the outskirts of downtown.

“I put on my survey that DPI closing is an immense opportunity because of its location,” she said. “DPI has come up with some business owners and some of the DDA board. Think about it. That could become housing, mixed use, or a green space. There would be a lot of opportunities, and we should at least consider them.”

The DDA last conducted a strategic planning project in 2019. The agency has checked off some of its goals from that plan and the board is now ready to begin the next phase of plans to shape downtown Alpena, including the expanded boundaries of the DDA.

Gentry said the DDA sent surveys out to business owners, local government officials, and others, asking them to prioritize topics and issues for the upcoming workshop.

The updated draft of the strategic plan should be released in May on the DDA website, DowntownAlpenaMI.com.

Gentry said the recent expansion of the DDA, which pushed the district down Chisholm Street to the George Washington Bridge and farther down 2nd Avenue, sets up exciting opportunities to revamp older properties and spruce up areas new to the DDA.

She said having the DDA, local government, and Target Alpena play a larger role in selecting which types of businesses are needed downtown and recruiting developers could also be in the cards.

The DDA’s strategic planning meeting happens from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at the yacht club in Alpena, 250 Prentiss St., and is open to the public.