An expansion of the main public parking lot on Marietta Avenue in Maplewood will give shoppers and diners an extra 63 parking spaces to choose from.

The city hopes to expand the parking lot from 115 spaces to 178 by spring. The expansion includes a brick wall that will separate the lot from residential street running behind it.

A demolition company will raze the house at 7359 Marietta Avenue to make room for the parking lot expansion, which the Maplewood City Council approved at its meeting last Tuesday.

The project is still in its early stages, so no costs have been attached to the project yet. City Manager Marty Corcoran said he expects to ask for special budget appropriations to tackle the project in January or February, which would require the city shuffle some money in this year's budget.

Now that the council has approved the plan, the contractor can measure for turning radiuses and identify handicap parking spots, Corcoran said. A final design should be submitted to council when the city requests appropriations.

The house will be razed within 60 days, Corcoran said, at a cost of $13,400. The Maplewood Fire Department will use the building for training exercises until the house is tore down.