Main Street business representatives oppose downtown parking changes
Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority officials stressed today they're far from making a final decision on changes to downtown parking rates and enforcement hours.
"The plan that was proposed was simply a start of the discussion on what we're going to do with the parking system," said DDA board member Roger Hewitt, referring to the draft plan that was outlined by the DDA's staff in a committee meeting last week.
"We certainly want to craft a plan that puts value on the parking spaces as the public puts value on those parking spaces, encourages downtown development and keeps the system financially viable, which is sort of a tall order," he said.
A customer pays to park on Main Street.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
But that didn't stop downtown business representatives from airing concerns before the DDA's governing board on Wednesday.
"I think the DDA in recent months has said that we're not going to go forward with anything that hurts downtown. The plan on the table hurts downtown," said Tom Murray, co-owner of Conor O'Neills and president of the Main Street Area Association.
Murray attended the meeting along with Maura Thomson, executive director of the association. They said the MSAA has had concerns about changes in parking meter rates and enforcement hours since those ideas were first seriously discussed two years ago.
Back in December 2009, when a resolution was brought to the City Council to extend meter enforcement hours, Thomson said, association members were vocally opposed and let the DDA know about the negative implications it could have on businesses.
"We also surveyed our membership," she said. "We then came back to the DDA and informed this board of the membership's overwhelming opposition to extending meter hours."
The City Council ultimately tabled the idea of extending enforcement hours in December 2009, instead asking the DDA to come back in April 2010 with a more comprehensive plan for managing the overall downtown parking system.
Thomson said the association was actively involved in discussions with the DDA leading up to April 2010 when it put out its parking demand management plan. She noted that report, where the ideas behind the latest proposal are coming from, included the following statement:
"Free structure parking is being used in other Michigan cites with mixed-use downtowns, as the offer of free is very attractive and easily understood. The DDA believes that every parking space has value, but if used correctly, using this pricing strategy may lessen demand at the meters and extend parking more broadly throughout the system."
Thomson said the association, as it has stressed over the past two years, still believes it's imperative for the plan to include a free parking component to counter the negative publicity that would result from higher rates and extended enforcement hours.
"Well, now we feel like we're back to where we started with DDA staff recommending higher rates and longer enforcement hours without regard to the concerns of the very people, the business owners, who make this downtown viable," she said.
DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay outlined a plan last week calling for a three-tiered pricing structure for parking meters in the area bound by State, Huron, First and William streets. The cost of entering some downtown parking structures also could go up.
Downtown parking meters currently are enforced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In addition to making downtown visitors pay for parking until 8 p.m. starting Jan. 1, the DDA's staff is proposing meter rates be increased to $1.80 an hour in prime locations.
Pollay said meters that consistently have monthly earnings in the top third of all meters in the system, such as on Main Street, could be increased to $1.80 an hour. Meanwhile, those meters in the middle could stay at $1.40 and those at the bottom could go down to $1.
The DDA's staff plans to discuss those options with the City Council at a Nov. 14 work session, but the DDA doesn't need council approval to enact the changes.
Murray said it's critical for any parking plan adopted by the DDA to have support from the business community, but he said that support isn't there yet.
He said many customers would have second thoughts about coming downtown if meter enforcement hours were increased. As far as employees, he noted the City Council directed to the DDA two years ago to come up with a comprehensive plan that includes parking incentives for downtown employees who work evenings.
"We have to work together to come up with safe, affordable options for employees so we can encourage them to park elsewhere," he said.
One idea that's been discussed is a free hour or two in downtown parking structures, which could help free up on-street spaces in front of business. DDA officials believe downtown employees are currently hogging prime on-street spaces and that making them more expensive would help better manage parking demand.
"What we're asking is that a truly free component be tied into any of the changes being made to evening enforcement," Thomson said.
Ray Detter, chairman of the Downtown Area Citizens Advisory Council, said today he believes the DDA is headed in the right direction with its parking strategy. He agreed the extension of parking meter enforcement hours should help push downtown employees into structures.
"Our thinking was that downtown employees would benefit from this and, somehow or another, the empty spaces that we have in the downtown on any night on top floors would be assigned to employees in a way in which they wouldn't be harmed," he said. "And in fact, what we would do is increase the possibility of people coming downtown and having a place to park."
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 9, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
This is what happens when boards are appointed without citizen input or accountability. DDA should be disbanded regardless of the complications involved. It was created for a purpose it no longer serves, and should not have served in the first place. City Council needs to take responsibility for city issues, not "pass the buck" literally to the DDA.
AA
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
My wife and I refuse to visit downtown Ann Arbor, for any reason. It is an absolute nightmare trying to find a place to park. The kisoks are riduculous. Do the merchants realize how much money and potential business they are losing? Increase in rates? you must be joking. Plymouth, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Soouth Lyon get all our drinking and dining dollars. I don't know if it is just me but it looks like the DDA wants to appeal to broke college kids. The downtown area is a nightmare.
bunnyabbot
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
"The plan that was proposed was simply a start of the discussion on what we're going to do with the parking system," said DDA board member Roger Hewitt. well of course it was Roger, just throwing the idea out there. Over and over again, this keeps coming up, because the DDA really does want to impliment it, that is there goal, no discussions will keep this from happening, it is the end goal of the DDA. disband the DDA period. They mismanage money and don't understand downtown business other than "parking revenue" in their pockets.
grimmk
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 2:32 a.m.
This is what's going to happen: All the cheaper spots will be taken first and then you'll be forced to use more expensive spots! How fair is that?
Fredric
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
Over the years I have traveled to many areas in this country and lately, many of the towns have eliminated the " Pay Parking" in their down town shopping areas. IT has increased the numbers of possible shoppers to the areas. However, the shop owners must still somehow get these people to enter their shops and make purchase's. Getting the numbers downtown is or should be the main thrust of the DDA. Getting the shoppers into the shops is up to the Business owners. I have worked with many DDA's over the years and the shop owners are always surprised to hear this. usand in many of the town, they are eliminating the cost of parking in the downtown shopping areas. This has and is improving the number of shoppers in the area. This will not insure that the business's will increase their sales, they are responsible to get these increased numbers ( hopefully) into their shops and to make purchase's!!
PLGreen
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
"The DDA believes that every parking space has value" Once again the DDA has it wrong. The Stores and Resturants have value, parking is simply a necessary evil. I have never heard someone say "I'm going downtown because parking is such a value". Wake up DDA and smell the coffee.
Carole
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
Again, say do away with DDA. It pleases me a great deal while doing Sunday market to be able to tell folks "parking is free on Sunday" -- many thanks from all of them. But, DDA doesn't get it. Businesses and folks working downtown need a break -- lower the parking and have free parking.
The Picker
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
It's obvious what's going on here. The city has become addicted to the funds ! How can we rely on their judgement when they have a monkey on their back?
dan
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
Highest parking revenue does not equal highest overall revenue for downtown. What proposal is logical? Two hours free with enforcement like Palo Alto combined with employers required to hold and assign a structure pass per employee is an option. Employers are a more reasonable way to affect employee behavior and free up those street spaces. Get things going with a nominal yearly charge. Palo Alto enforces from 8-5 M-F. Two hours of free parking is offered also in surface lots with three hours offered within structures. <a href="http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pln/transportation/parking/default.asp" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pln/transportation/parking/default.asp</a> Maybe this question would make a good ballot initiative.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
Main Street businesses need to learn reverse psychology when it comes to dealing with the Orwellian Downtown Development Authority. Please, sirs? Raise our parking rates. We hate customers.
Goober
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.
Roger Hewitt said it all when he commented that this is "simply a start of the discussion on what we're going to do with the parking system." Case closed and the decision has been made already. As long as Ann Arbor voters allow the mayor, city council and other like minded city leaders to run for office unopposed, then this is what we get and deserve. I think we need more bike lanes, more art and less critical services.
racerx
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
Hey Ray Detter, how would downtown employees benefit if they have to pay more to park in a parking structure? On their salaries? Most of these employees who work downtown after the normal 9-5 are bars and restaurant workers. If they are segregated to the top floors, how would that work? Put in a gate? More expense for the DDA. Though this should be good drama. The very people that the DDA is suppose to help are the business owners who are against their plan! Will the DDA listen to the very business owners who have more at stake than the city/DDA who are attempting to fill their coffers? Or, will the DDA just simply follow the MSAA recommendations and keep a free component in their review of the parking rates. And again, what's going to happen when the 600 car park at the Library Lot is completed? Seemingly, there will be a gut of parking downtown. Hope this is true, then maybe Division St. can return to at least three lanes to get all of this traffic out of downtown at 5pm. instead of idling in our cars while the motor is running at un-timed street lights, causing more pollution and fear that we'll get a ticket!
Tom Joad
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 8:08 p.m.
DDA never met a fee hike they didn't like. Every increase in meter rates causes a commensurate decrease in spending in local businesses and restaurants. Drivers bring the carriage trade.
Carole
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
They need it because they always seem to be running in the red -- then asking AA Council to bail them out.
Monica R-W
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Good for the Business Owners! Maybe the DDA will get a clue, realize the purpose of the organization which should be to PROMOTE downtown A2 businesses and not pocket money for themselves and drop this useless proposal.
Heady99
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
It is simply too expensive to go downtown anymore!