Someone may have finally solved the epic parking problem at The Courtyard.

A company called Franklin West, LLC has submitted a plan to renovate and expand the retail and office complex at the corner of Franklin and Roberson streets, perhaps best known as the former location for businesses like Pyewacket, 3Cups, Sandwhich and Locopops. The plan would add 19 apartments, a 90-car parking deck and new stories onto some buildings.

The former owner, Spencer Young, drove out tenants like 3Cups beverage shop in part because he refused to pay rent to neighbor P.H. Craig, who owns the back part of The Courtyard's parking lot due to a strange legal arrangement that goes back decades. Craig barricaded his portion of the parking lot, putting The Courtyard out of compliance with its permits and prompting local officials to intervene.

Wachovia foreclosed on the property last year, and county records list the bank's subsidiary NFPS, Inc. as The Courtyard's owner. Franklin West LLC formed in March with John Weigle of Durham as the registered agent. The relationship between Wachovia and Weigle is unclear.
The new parking deck would eliminate The Courtyard's need to use Craig's land.

Durham County Commissioners gave a warm reception Monday night to Greenfire Development's request that it build a $7.54 million parking deck to support Greenfire's redevelopment projects in downtown Durham.

The commissioners took no direct action, but during their regular session approved a resolution to allow the county to provide public parking downtown. They praised the Greenfire idea as a means of reviving the inner city.