News Jun 21, 2012 at 4:00 am

Fixing the Eastside's Empty Parking Lot Problem

Comments

1
This is a really important issue, and it's really great to see the Merc bring some attention to it. There is a real opportunity for the city to bring in some much-needed money by charging a nominal price in exchange for leaving your car in a high-demand area for hours at a time. I know I would drive more if I knew there would be an open parking spot (at least one that didn't require me to circle for 10 minutes looking for it) near my destination, but in neighborhoods with free parking (NW, Hawthorne, Mississippi &c), it's a crapshoot.
2
As a business owner on E Burnside, I can tell you two things: 1) The private, empty parking lots are frustrating. My clients are rarely able to park next to our building, yet there are four lots near us...that are empty. But if you step foot in them, towing is called immediately (and can show up withing minutes- what sadist is watching these lots?!) B) Metered parking would be a huge burden for our employees, many of which work for 8 hours & don't have time to even "feed the meter," and our clients, who are already struggling to find a spot. The only plus I can see out of this is that people that work downtown & in Lloyd center, which take advantage of our free parking, may go back to their own neighborhoods.
3
If it costs money to park on the street, then some owners of empty lots can make some money selling permits for their lots. The endless maintenance of free parking in one of the most transit-accessible neighborhoods in the city means we're constantly leaving money on the table.
4
I love downtown's parking meters, because they mean that I can usually find a space there! The only times when I can't find a space downtown are when parking is free - I think that the enforcement hours should be extended! Similarly, I think paid parking will be great in the inner Eastside, although it should be implemented beyond just Broadway and MLK. If it can help pay for streetcar operating costs, so much the better!
5
I don't have a problem with meters along major arteries. But other than that, and the city buying parking lots, what can you do? Tough to force people to close their lots, and I think a half-empty lot is better than fenced-off weeds and wind-blown garbage. Eventually more condo developments should go up, and new businesses might do a better job of filling lots, but that'll take some time.

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