VALPARAISO | A new issue has arisen concerning the improvements being made to Valparaiso Street: on-street parking after the road is reopened.

Resident Madeline Guillaum said Mayor Jon Costas told street residents during an August meeting at the Butterfield Pavilion that, when the reconstruction is done, parking will be banned on the street. Another meeting to update residents on the progress of the project is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the pavilion.

"I am now wondering what person or what group has the right to make this decision, and how many other residential streets in Valparaiso have eliminated parking," Guillaum said in a letter to The Times. "I'm sure there are many other streets in the city that are not any wider than Valparaiso where at least parking is allowed on one side of the street.

"The problem is that most of these houses have a small amount of frontage," she said. "If they are fortunate enough to have a driveway, it is usually one car width. I happen to be one of the unfortunate ones that is really affected by living in the middle of the block."

Costas said "everything is up for discussion" but added, "When you add curbs, you create a barrier to parking on the side of the road. The road is so narrow that you can't park on it and move traffic safely. It's a big issue, and I'll be happy to talk and explain that at the meeting."

The improvements to Valparaiso Street have been planned for decades. Work finally began about two years ago with the relocation of the water mains. This year a storm sewer was installed on Evans Avenue between Valparaiso Street and Calumet Avenue to provide an outlet for the new storm sewer on Valparaiso Street.

In addition to the storm sewer on Valparaiso Street, a new sanitary sewer, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paving are being done this year from Evans to Glendale Boulevard. Next spring the project will be extended to Herta Street. The storm is now being installed, and the intersection at Glendale will have turn lanes and signals installed.

Guillaum said the new road appears to be much lower than the original, and she is concerned about the slope coming out of her driveway and how the sidewalks will merge with the lawns.

"In hindsight, I'm thinking if the residents along the street had any idea what was going to take place, we might have put up some resistance," she said. "I'm certain the value of our property will be reduced."

Costas disagreed saying, "When it's all done, it will be awesome."