A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Free parking available at River Haus during daytime hours Friday through Sunday this week


NKyTribune staff

Shoppers in MainStrasse Village will be able to park in the new RiverHaus Apartments garage during daytime hours this Friday and Saturday as part of a special, one-time change.

As first reported in the NKyTribune, about 100 spots in the garage were made available starting Tuesday of this week as part of a special agreement worked out between the City and project developer Flaherty & Collins Properties.

But the agreement limited availability to the hours between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each evening (and all day Sunday) so the garage would be cleared by the time construction on RiverHaus resumed each day.

“The idea was suggested to us that if there’s no construction activity this weekend, could the garage be opened during the day as an assist to retailers in the area,” Economic Development Director Tom West said. “I spoke with the developer this morning and he agreed to do exactly that.”

The decision is good timing, West said, given that the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are likely the biggest two-day shopping period for small businesses each year.

“This is perfect, because here in Covington we’re celebrating Small Business Saturday in a big way, and one of the hubs of shopping and activity is MainStrasse Village,” West said. “With these 100 free spots, there’s even more reason for shoppers to shop, eat, and drink in this area.”

After this weekend, hours in the garage at Fifth and Main streets will revert to the original agreement. Access to the garage can be gained on the Main Street side.

The parking in the garage at Fifth and Main streets will be free on a temporary basis and will be limited to the hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. Vehicle owners will need to remove their vehicles by 5 a.m. each day or risk being towed, so as to avoid any interference or inconveniences with the ongoing construction of RiverHaus.

River Haus is scheduled for completion in 2019 (provided image).

Access to the garage can be gained on the Main Street side.
Covington officials praised RiverHaus developer Flaherty & Collins Properties and its local representative, Deron Kintner, for accommodating the City’s request and taking the unusual step of allowing parking on an active construction site.

“We’re well aware that construction of this exciting project took away parking used by patrons of MainStrasse Village, and that’s why we wanted to replace that parking as soon as it was possible to do in a safe manner,” City Manager David Johnston said. “This has been a long time coming, but the wet weather – especially in early spring – has interfered.”

The City had hoped to have the garage open last week, but the freezing rain delayed work to prepare the garage. The garage also had to be approved for temporary occupancy by safety inspectors with the Covington Fire Department and PDS (Planning & Development Services of Kenton County).

RiverHaus, located at 501 Main St., will bring about 190 luxury apartments, retail space, and a two-story parking garage to the City-owned property and a nearby parking lot. About 100 spaces in the garage will remain open to the public, with the rest reserved for residents.

Ground was broken on RiverHaus in December 2017, and the first phase of its residential development is scheduled to be finished in summer 2019.


Related Posts

Leave a Comment