WARREN — A local business owner says he may leave Warren if city council votes to reopen Dana Street where his business is located.

Christopher Alan, owner of AutoParkit, said he wants Dana Street to stay closed to help his business run smoothly and stay secure, but some council members argue the street should be open for public use. A final vote date is not yet set.

Alan said closing Dana Street is key to his business. He said he needs the street to move materials, run forklifts and keep his property secure.

“I can’t secure the campus with people driving 80 miles an hour up the street, motorcycles running up and down the street,” Alan said. “We’ve had three break-ins in the last month, three, and that’s because I still have to let people come through.”

He argues the street is not needed for public traffic since it dead-ends and only serves his business and one other.

Alan said his company employs about 60 people, with plans to grow to more than100 next year. Alan said he has spent millions fixing up old buildings, paying back taxes and maintaining the street.

He said he’s considering moving to states like Tennessee, where taxes are lower and cities offer free infrastructure.

“Make no mistake, this isn’t a vote about Dana,” Alan said. “It’s a vote about asking me to stay or asking me to leave.”

Community Development Director Michael Keys said Alan walking away would be a shame.

“He (Alan) came in, pulled the property out of bankruptcy, invested millions into that property and created jobs at that property. And so the city and administration, including the mayor and a director, all appreciate everything he’s done up there,” Keys said.

Keys gave thanks to Alan for revitalizing a street he said was once a vacant property on the verge of costing the city a high price to demolish. Keys said the property ran the risk of “…costing us more than what it cost us to do the old St. Joseph Hospital.”

But Keys reiterated his comments from Monday’s traffic and safety meeting that the initial conversation around whether to close Dana Street was in regard to the peninsula project, not Alan’s business.

Tiffany Stanford, D-5th Ward, led Monday’s meeting on the matter. On Tuesday, she expressed her disappointment with Alan’s stance if council doesn’t “capitulate to his request.”

“The city has been more than patient and accommodating in allowing the road to remain closed for 10 years. While we have given him (Alan) the leeway to keep the road closed, we have fielded the concerns of not only the citizens of the area, but other businesses. It’s time to consider the entire community.”

Honyea Price, D-6th Ward, is unsure about the decision. “It’s a city street, not a person’s street. If every business wants to close a street, will we allow that?” However, Price also worries about safety, saying kids walk to school near Dana Street, and truck traffic could be dangerous. She wants more time to investigate, including checking claims from another business, Bloom Industries, about needing the street open for truck access.

At Monday’s committee meeting, a representative from Bloom Industries said the business sees about 50 trucks come through their business a day.

Councilman Todd Johnson, I-1st Ward, said council must balance everyone’s needs. “We appreciate all the businesses in the city of Warren that have made similar investments,” Johnson said. “He’s not alone.”

Johnson also said vandalism, like Alan’s break-ins, is a common issue for businesses and doesn’t justify closing a public street. Johnson said his church also has seen vandalism, but the councilman said they made the improvements necessary, including getting cameras.

Price said she operates a garden in her ward and said she also has had issues with vandals, but plans on getting cameras. Johnson said he is concerned about setting a precedent that could lead other businesses asking for street closures.

Alan said that two residents spoke at a recent council meeting about Dana Street, despite Warren’s population of about 38,000. Alan said this shows little public concern. “If there was real opposition to Dana, if there was a real need for Dana, how many people would be at that meeting?” he asked. “It’d probably be a packed house.”

Price agrees more input is needed.

“We should do a survey for the residents, see what they want,” she said. “We just don’t close the street because somebody wants the street closed.”

Johnson added that he and other council members plan to survey the community to make an informed decision.