DDA parking revenue from Ann Arbor Art Fair drops; parking system users also down in July
Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority officials remarked today that this year's Art Fair was the worst they could remember in at least a decade.
In terms of number of visitors, that is.
A lot of that, they suspect, had to do with the weather — or what DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay described as an incredible heat wave in July.
The crowds seemed lighter than usual during this year's Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
The report shows there were increases in Art Fair parking revenue every year from 2001 through 2009, but revenue dropped from $244,180 to $218,230 last year, and then it dropped again to $213,250 this year — about a 2.28 percent decrease.
It appears the loss of the Library Lot, where construction of a new underground parking garage is under way, played a large role.
The DDA was averaging more than $19,000 in revenue from the surface parking lot during each of the last several Art Fairs, but that revenue has been nonexistent for the past two years as construction continues on the site.
A report for the entire month of July shows $1.33 million in parking revenues were netted by the DDA, up slightly from the $1.30 million in July 2010.
That's despite actual users of the parking system being down 5 percent. There were 151,904 hourly patrons in July 2011, compared to 159,817 hourly patrons in July 2010
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
snapshot
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
Downturn in parking revenue so the DDA's solution is to increase parking fees. Typical of a non responsive government entity. No consequences for their actions or irresponsible attention to revenue gain. Even going as far as to cover up their inadequate cost accounting methods for captured revenue and notdistributing this revenue appropriately. Great job!
HENDRIX242
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
The Art Fair is tired and stale. It offers nothing to the 18-45 year old demographic. At my business, sales were down 20% from last year as my regulars stayed away in droves with nothing to attract them to the Art Fair. It's the same thing year, after year. Arts, Beats & Eats has more attractions, beer, better music and better food. The city should offer a beer tent area with Michigan only beers. The Art Fair should ban booths by coporations like Comcast & Wallside Windows. It's an Art Fair, not a home expo show. Let's stay focused; it should be more about culture than commerce. Comcast is purely commerce while trying to dictate, not create, culture. Keep it simple and less corporate, corporations are better known for destroying art than creating it. Their presence is neither wanted nor warranted. The fair is too crowded. The people who run the fair do not promote local businesses enough. Remove all political booths; limit the only non - art items to the Human Society or other non-profits. The city should promote local businesses, not curtail them with idiotic diversions.
andralisa
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
May be the bike racks are finally full and the sidewalks are packed with short and long distance walkers! Maybe the DDA is so full of itself that this is a protest with people voting via their feet. And, maybe the word is out even further that parking in Ann Arbor is beyond ridiculous, let's go somewhere else where the attitude is not so much that the city is doing you a favor by allowing you to visit. DDA? You getting all of this?
Murf
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
I hope no one brings up the idea of starting to charge on Sundays. I'd have to have Pizza House deliver to a meet up spot somewhere between A2 and Ypsi.
Mr Blue
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
Let's build more parking!
Dog Guy
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:34 a.m.
Rats! Aabikes has snitched us out to the DDA: "There were a lot of people on bikes." By winter DDA will have us paying $2/hr. to park our bikes.
Richard C
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
The Art Fairs were a victim of all of the construction around town that constricted vehicular traffic flow and eliminated parking availability. And the Great Recession and the general schlocky nature of most of the junk on sale. The DDA parking revenue is suffering from pretty much the same thing. The Main Street area doesn't offer anything but businesses that depend on disposable income - and the Great Recession has been going on long enough that people have become accustomed to lowered expectations and don't feel the need for entertainment they used to. As a side note - despite being a long time Ann Arbor resident and now living within 25 minutes walk of down town, I am spending more time in Pinckney (my girlfriend is there) and discovering the delight of a good diner with modest prices. I like the hardware store there too...
Mick52
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
Don't forget Michigan lost a lot of population and with the recession I would not expect many to spend much extra. That said, I must have attended 20+ Art Fairs over the years and to me it just became too much of the same old thing every year. Nothing new, nothing really to draw me in. The city really caved to the S Univ merchants and that diluted the talent and made the Art Fair too big. I guess I just got tired of seeing the same old thing, over and over and over again.
Mick52
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.
Gonna start calling you "Bad news Ryan."
GoblueBeatOSU
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
hmmm....do you think maybe...just maybe basic economics is at work here xecutive Director Susan Pollay?? The higher you push the fees...the fewer people will use the parking.....that is just basic economics.
johnnya2
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 5:44 a.m.
Well if revenue is up and users are down, and there was not a rate increase between 2009 and 2010 that woudl suggest people are using the meters and parking for longer periods. THis would mean upping the rates would be a good thing. We want the meters and parking spots to turn more frequently in the downtown corridor. As for the whiners who claim they will go to Northville, Plymouth or Dexter, go ahead, you are too stupid to realize the cost of driving that far certainly outweighs a few dollars on parking. Typical of those who feel entitled. By the way, how did North Point work out in Dexter?
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
Why on earth would I want to fight traffic, bikes and pedestrians that don't look where they're walking, AND pay an exorbitant parking fee just to park downtown, when I can park for free at Briarwood and take the AATA bus for, what? $10 for myself and my kids, both ways?
Betty
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
I don't know the reason others didn't pay the DDA, but I know I find AA parking overpriced and hostile. I don't treat other people poorly and I don't have time for towns, bureaucrats and parking shake down schemes that treat me poorly. There is a poster of a collage of "no parking signs" with an ironic "welcome to Ann Arbor". It's a funny poster, but it reflects an arrogant unwelcomeness to downtown that I find unpleasant and has repelled me to other places. For me, when possible I avoid downtown, and when I must I find free places to park in AA. I presume that sending away customers is not the intention but it is the outcome in my case. Now, the DDA wants to raise the rates. This simply raises my resolve to go elsewhere. The restaurants in Dexter, Saline and Northville are lovely and the shops are charming
Mick52
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:20 a.m.
I am with Betty. Although in my experiences the people in the booths do a great job the policies, practices and fee structure is not nice to people. The supervisors apparently have no flexibility. My wife lost a ticket for a couple of hours and obviously spent the day at work but still had to pay the full day fee. It was a waste of time waiting for the supervisor to show up. I too avoid downtown and when I have to, I will spend extra time and walk further to find a non metered space. Ann Arbor used to be but is no longer a friendly town.
Halter
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 10:07 p.m.
Not surprised at all to see this -- but I hardly think you can blame it on the missing parking lot adjacent to the Library. Rather, I would chalk up the decreased revenue to decreased attendance at Art Fair, the oppressive heatwave that hit that week, and an increase in ridership on the shuttle busses rather than parking. A-Ride has done a masterful job of advertising the shuttle busses. As anecdotal evidence, though -- speaking to friends who own a downtown restaurant, they also stated that they had their lowest turnout in a decade. Two theaters were presenting musicals on the same weekend -- both had their lowest attendance in many years. The recession is here for the time being; and the heatwave killed the extra folks who might normally have turned out.
Tom Joad
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
Art Fair has become both tired and tiresome. It's held in the absolute hottest part of the Summer. The prices are ridiculous and most of the so-called art is schlock. How many times can you mill through the crowds viewing the same old fare every year?
aabikes
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
There were a lot of people on bikes.
a2grateful
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.
Maybe the "downturn" is starting to become evident to the DDA . . . Is it possible they might adjust their wild plans, spending sprees, and visions of self-important grandeur? Possible, maybe . . . Probable? Or, will we hear the new city mantra : / "Global warming is the cause of our downturn." : / On a more pleasant note: I visited a nearby city and had the choice of parking on the street or in a surface lot. Both were free. What a nice experience!
LBH
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
There are undoubtedly a number of things contributing to the drop in parking revenue, some listed here, some not. In addition to the heat, (which was pretty oppressive!) I'm guessing that fewer people felt they could afford to come out and spend money at the Art Fair. Also, it's possible that the shuttle services cut into down town parking as well. The shuttles I saw the few times I dared to venture out into that heat, looked pretty full. Why not park at Briarwood, right next to the 94 on ramp and let the bus take you downtown. It is a great idea and cheaper than parking down town in either City lots or in private lots. Now, let the snotty comments blaming the DDA, the Mayor, the City Council, fewer police offices and fire fighters, the City Hall expansion, the City Hall fountain, the Planning Commission, and the Easter Bunny commence.
huh7891
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 11:29 a.m.
Don't drag the Easter Bunny into this mess!
racerx
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
Due to the Library Lot? Wasn't this the area where the artist parked their RV's and vans? You're telling me that they were charged in the past? So, is this the reason why parking rates are going up? And, will the meter rates go back down once the 600 car parking garage is built? I mean, if the idea is to charge more for parking spaces that are closer (i.e. downtown), then I guess we can remove those parking meters on Division St. near Blimpy Burgers and return Division St. to at least three lanes again.
djm12652
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
Actual users down 5% yet an increase in revenue? Hmmm....Maybe the rate increases could be a clue....and all the DDA would have had to do to determine the attendance was down was to look at open parking meters on Washington Street just west of Main...I stood in the Liberty St. Food Court and normally you couldn't see east for the crowds of people...this year, could see at various times, all the way to State St...
aes
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
And the new parking meters installed on First Street near William stand empty all day long--until the evening when they are free.