Assisted living developer Gayle Evans met with city officialsTuesday night in a work session to once again discuss possibilitiesfor a facility at the corner of Whitworth and MonticelloStreets.

Evans again told the group if they would OK the project, hisfacility would make them proud. Evans has been working to meetaldermen’s requests for things such as additional parking and anacceptable exterior look.

Mayor Bob Massengill told Evans parking had been a primaryconcern for both aldermen and local citizens. Evans said he’s doingeverything within his power to accommodate the parkingconcerns.

“I just want y’all to be happy,” said Evans, adding he had apossibility for 40 parking spaces underneath the facility andpossibly another 15 spaces farther down the street on another lothe is looking to buy if needed. “I wouldn’t put in anything Ithought would cause problems.”

Joe and Christi Fleming, of Just Kiddin’ toy store, were presentto voice their worries over downtown parking. They said if theparking situation is not addressed, it could greatly harm downtownbusiness.

“We are in support of this facility, and we hope it’s full ofgrandmothers that want to spoil their grandchildren,” said ChristiFleming.

But, as Fleming read from a written statement, if all thedowntown parking spaces are taken up by residents it could limitparking for shoppers coming in from other places. Christi Flemingsaid she worries the charm of downtown living could be lost.

Evans said he’s trying not only to draw people to the downtown,but to keep them living in the Brookhaven area.

“We’re all going to get old,” he said. “Senior citizens don’twant to leave, and I’m trying to keep them here in Brookhaven.”

Evans said on the average, only 10 percent of assisted livingresidents have cars. He expects to have 72 rooms in hisfacility.

Two women, from Wright’s Fabrics on West Cherokee Street, werealso present and expressed concerns about current residents’parking on the street in downtown.

In answer to questions by Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell, heand his son Chance Evans said there would also be kitchenettes insome of the living areas. The younger Evans said the facility wouldbe one of the most family-oriented businesses in the city.

“It’s going to be structured around the family,” he said.”That’s our goal … definitely to be family-oriented.”

Evans went on to tell the group his facility would be top-notch,that the meals in the dining area would be dictated by adietitian.

Local resident Johnny Perkins, who owns the Perkins Buildingacross the corner from where the assisted living facility would belocated, was also present at the meeting.

“I’m in favor of this, and I think it would be a good thing,” hesaid. “We’ve got an eyesore over there and people haven’t beenstanding in line to do something with it.”

In response to one of Perkins’ questions, Evans said theconstruction could last around a year. Perkins said he thinks thefacility would fill a definite need in the community.

“I hope you can move forward with this,” he told Evans. “We’re aretirement community and need a place where old folks can get aroom and have people to take care of them.”

Ward Four Alderwoman Shirley Estes said nationwide, trends areleaning toward downtown living. She said it is referred to as the”new urbanism.”

“That is not a new thing, and we’re working toward that kind ofmix in our downtown,” she said. “This is going on all over ourcountry, and I feel this facility would be in keeping withthat.”

Board members made no ruling on the situation, but said theywere glad to have clarified it further. It will be revisited in anupcoming regular meeting.