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Berlin resident to offer parking lot

JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Local business owner and resident Tiffany Lackner plans to open up a portion of her West Street home to public parking, for an “honor box” fee.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 4, 2019) Berlin’s parking problems should improve somewhat, as resident and business owner Tiffany Lackner has pledged to create 50 new public parking spaces on her property that borders West and Broad streets.

Finding downtown parking during the busy summer can be difficult, and the Town Council acknowledged as much last October by awarding a $24,480 contract to Sabra & Associates Inc. of Columbia, Maryland for a parking and mobility study.

Lackner, the owner of Dream Weaver on Main Street, made the announcement during a March 21 merchant’s meeting.

She elaborated during an interview last Friday that her plans for the home, known as “The Robin’s Nest,” also include a downtown wedding venue and ice-skating rink.

Lackner said the former plantation house is the second oldest home in Berlin.

“It’s eventually going to be an event spot, so I’m going to be able to do weddings there. And this winter there’s going to be an ice skating rink brought in, and that’s a three-and-a-half month deal,” she said. “That’s going to bring a ton of people into town in the winter, when there’s no one here.”

Lackner plans to open the rink in November, to coincide with the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony, and keep it open seven days a week through February. She also hopes to offer some extras, such as s’mores and Christmas photos.

First, however, she’ll open a portion of the yard as a parking lot, which she estimated could accommodate up to 50 spaces.

“The parking lot would be close to the railroad tracks,” Lackner said. “I’m going to have a little ‘honor box.’ I don’t know what it’s going to be — it could be $3 or $5 — but it has to be something to be able to fund the next project, which’ll be the ice skating rink.

“The whole thing was to do weddings, concerts on the lawn, maybe an open air market and art walks. I want to do a lot of things on the property,” she added.

Eventually, Lackner hopes to host weddings of up to 150 people.

“The weddings will come in about 20 months,” she said. “But first, I’ve got to erect a gazebo on the property and I have a ton of things to do, so we’ll start with the parking.”

Lackner said town officials were receptive to the idea. She hopes to have an oyster shell-covered area finished within the next several weeks.

“I’m hoping within the month they can start parking there, because it’s only going to take a day to lay the shells,” she said. “The end of April is the goal.”