On the Market.

Roanoke City Council recently passed a measure that will allow the city to not only increase daily rates, but also to charge a $2 parking fee on nights and weekends at all city owned garages. While I have been unable to ascertain a response from several City Council Members regarding specific details, it is believed that the new fees will begin on July 1st, 2007 when the new 2007-2008 City Budget takes affect. Previously weekend parking has been free at both the Center in the Square Garage and the Market Garage - the most convenient garages to the Market - with no fees after 5pm at the Market Garage during the week. The new charges would result in someone manning the garages evenings and weekends probably until 9 or 9:30pm. However, I am not sure of exactly how late fees will be collected as my questions to City Council have as of yet remained unanswered. If the new fees are only collected until 9pm, it seems this would not have a huge impact on bar goers unless the new fees are charged upon entering the garages rather than on exiting. However, the new fees will definitely be noticed by Saturday and Sunday Market visitors as well as those who enjoy an early dinner at one of downtown Roanoke’s many restaurants.

While I have put off this article in hopes of receiving a response from the City on specific details regarding this new change, I still have no concrete answers. Specific questions I posed to Council included the following: Who proposed the $2 parking fee for evenings and weekends? Why was the public not informed of this issue so they could provide feedback before Council voted? Does City Council realistically believe this endeavor will result in profit after changing the signs throughout the city and paying someone to man the garages the additional hours? And, would the city reconsider the issue if it is found that downtown businesses suffer as a result of the new fees?

While a flat $2 fee for parking on evenings and weekends does not seem like a lot of money, parking is in fact the number one complaint received from downtown businesses. With the average income of Roanokers at only just over $28,700, the rising cost of electricity implemented by AEP and the rising cost of gasoline has hit many budgets hard. Things like this can make a big difference on what citizens are willing or not willing to spend their money on. Last week I questioned both business owners and consumers on the Market regarding this change. The overall consensus from the people I questioned is that the city is not listening to area business owners and downtown consumers. In fact, on May 14th, Greenhouse Boardshop told me that parents already drop their kids off at the store to shop, while the parents then drive around the block waiting for their child to pick out what they want. The parents will then write a check for their child’s purchase from the car on their way back around. Greenhouse even joked about installing a drive through window, but the sad truth remains that parking is a big issue to downtown consumers. I’ve witnessed the same behavior from patrons visiting the Farmer’s Market, who at times, even tell their friend who’s driving to go around the block again as they’re still shopping.

Following is some of the feedback I received from area businesses:

Eric Dresser, who owns Calhoun & Kipp, told me on Tuesday of last week that basically what it boils down to is that someone isn’t listening to somebody when the number one complaint from customers is parking. Eric felt the free parking was a good incentive as it encouraged visitors, yet now the city has voted to take away the free parking which seems counterproductive to what the downtown area is trying to achieve. He believes the city sneaked this measure in to raise the money that they need rather than going about it publicly. The city, he said, is doing what they want rather than listening to the feedback they’ve been getting from the local businesses. Further, Eric told me, it’s ludicrous to charge for parking on Sunday - the one day of the week many downtown businesses have struggled with in trying to draw more consumers.

Brian Seckinger, of Roanoke Valley Clayworks/Photoworks - a vendor on the Farmer’s Market - told me that if we had enough business downtown it would be one thing to introduce new parking fees. However, the truth is, downtown just doesn’t have the business. Therefore, Brian feels, any new charges won’t benefit the city financially as people will drive around the block 5,000 times before they’ll pay to park.

Kyle Kelsheimer, also a vendor on the Farmer’s Market, believes the new fees will be a deterrent and will actually discourage people from visiting downtown. “We need to encourage people,” Kyle says, “not discourage them.” She also told me that Happy’s tried to impose a parking fee at one point and business dropped off dramatically as a result.

Tommy Anderton, who owns Sam’s on the Market, feels the new parking fees are unnecessary. “This is just a grab at our customers’ pocketbooks. The city should exercise better judgment when it comes to taking care of their businesses and vendors on the Market.”

As it turned out, many business and customers alike on the Market were unaware of the impending changes regarding the new parking fees. The overwhelming majority of customers that I questioned last week were against a $2 fee for evening and weekend parking. Most also stated that they would visit the Market less because of it.

Incidentally, Downtown Roanoke, Inc. opposed the changes to parking fees for the city garages. Their position is that the new and increased parking fees will have a negative impact on businesses in downtown Roanoke, creating an additional impediment for visitors, employees, and employers especially as “many are just now coming to appreciate the current system of free parking at night and on weekends.” A big concern DRI voiced about the new fees was that patrons would opt to seek alternate venues once the fees are enacted - ones that are both less expensive and offer free parking such as outlying malls and office parks.

Personally, I am hoping City Council will see the folly in their actions and reconsider the new fees. While the additional funds are meant to go toward what I believe is the expense of structurally stabilizing the Market Garage, I think with the combination of the potentially decreased weekend visitors and the expense of paying employees to man the garages additional hours, the city may be lucky to just break even. Not mention there is the potential loss to area businesses if consumers are unwilling to pay for parking. I honestly don’t think this method is what is needed to raise money. However, only time will tell what the loss of free parking will bring. If you have an opinion on this issue, I urge you to write City Council with your concerns. You’re also welcome to post your comments here.