Downtown Parking Manager Becky Smyth reported that the new parking lot at Broad Street and Third Avenue would be closed next Tuesday through Jan. 18, but improvements are on the way.

City crews will put striping on the new pavement and cut out some of the asphalt for greenscapes. The new lot will ultimately provide 36 spaces, 15 of them currently leased. Public parking in the new lot will have a three-hour limit.

Smyth also said during the Downtown Development Authority’s meeting on Thursday that improvements in the Midtown Transfer lot on East First Street should be complete by the end of February.

While downtown Rome enjoyed another tremendous year in 2012, the Broad business district starts 2013 in a bit of a hole with the loss of The Clotheshorse and Lee’s Furniture.

Geri Cheeley is giving up The Clotheshorse, 419 Broad St., to spend more time with her baby boy, while Lee and Sue Hampton retired from their furniture business at 206 Broad St.

DDA Executive Director Ann Arnold told the board she’s working with several solid prospects for the downtown district and is optimistic that 2013 will be another good year for downtown Rome.

Steven McDowell, owner of the Old Havana Cigar Co., 327 Broad St., was elected to a second term as chairman of the DDA.

The City Commission’s liaison to the DDA will serve as vice chairman. Bill Collins has held that post for the past three years, but that could change as the commission fills its leadership posts next week.

Ann Pullen will continue to lead the DDA’s design committee, Steve White will chair the business development committee, Barbara Ware will head the outreach committee, Jay Shell will lead the promotions committee, and Alice Herring will chair the parking committee.

Arnold said the full First Friday concert schedule has been mapped out, and the May and September events will take place as Block Parties on Broad Street.