Paid Parking, Police Protection Proposed Near Durham Nightclub

Monday night, City Manager Lamont Ewell told city council members that since the city owns the lot and the parking deck near the Power Company nightclub, police officers should be on-duty and charge fees to park.

"These are city properties where very [violent] acts have occurred," says Ewell. "Two people have lost their lives. One person is currently fighting for his life."

A fight outside the nightclub last week left a man in serious condition.

Two deadly shootings took place in the same parking lot last December.

Ken Spaulding, attorney for the Power Company, says the nightclub and the city are working for the same goal.

"That is in public places, we want to make sure that when our patrons do leave the premises, that they are in a safe condition when they go on to the public parking lot, the public streets," Spaulding said. "We very much want that to be for anyone who comes to the Power Company or anyone in downtown Durham."

The parking fee plan is not final. A final plan is expected by the council's next meeting in two weeks.