I would like to draw your attention to an article that was co-authored by Donald Shoup who is a UCLA professor in urban economics and considered the
leading expert on the topic of parking in depressed urban areas. The article explores how one community actually pulled its community out of a slump by
charging for parking.http://www.uctc.net/access/23/Access%2023%20-%2002%20-%20Small%20Change%20into%20Big%20Change.pdfIt is amazing what a little creativity and vision can do! CM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a resident from the south of Guelph I frequent the Main Library, restaurants, pubs, City Hall, Farmers’ Market, doctor’s office, fair trade coffee shop, clothing, jewelry, and bookstores. Paying for parking is not a deterrent for shopping in the downtown. In fact, I spent more time shopping in the downtown than I do at Stone Road Mall.
I am one who does not object to paying for parking in the downtown area. I know that this fee will be used for upkeep and maintenance of the parking areas. I have also shopped in other communities that also charge for parking.
By having a cost of parking in the downtown, it levels the playing field with that of the malls.
It is my understanding that when I go to a mall to shop, like Stone Road Mall, that the cost of parking is included in the cost of the goods or services I purchase. Part of the fee or rent that businesses pay to the Mall Corporation is used for upkeep and maintenance of the parking area like plowing the snow in the winter, lighting, repaving or line painting.
What we have here is the illusion of free parking. Whether I shop at a mall or downtown, the cost of the goods or services I purchase is included in the cost of the item. If I shop downtown the cost goes directly to the City. If I shop at a mall, the cost goes indirectly to the mall corporation. In both cases it is user pay.
There is a parallel in the downtown area. The City owns the streets and parkades. The City charges a fee, which is use for maintenance and upkeep of the parking areas by the people who use those areas.
The parking fee in the downtown is upfront known by all but the parking fee in malls is hidden in the cost of goods or services. If the driving public is reminded of the hidden parking cost at the malls then maybe their objections to downtown parking fees may be lessened.
However, in contrast, it is my understanding that the shops that are located in the downtown do not pay the City for the parking that their customers use.
It then follows, that by removing the cost of parking or having free parking for a set period of time, the City will loose needed revenue and it gives the downtown merchants an unfair advantage over their mall counterparts. The downtown cost of goods or services will not include the cost of parking.
Remember the introduction of the GST? Part of its rational was to replace and relocate hidden taxes that were part of the cost of goods. For some reason, we seem to prefer hidden costs rather than upfront taxation. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.
So rather than stay with user pay, the City will encur a financial loss if it goes with “free parking” in the downtown. The burden of cost now falls on all taxpayers. Would the malls seek similar treatment?
I understand that $700, 000 will be “found” to offset the loss of revenue. Either services are being cut or shaved to provide this amount or there is a surplus in the department from where it is coming from. Would this money be put to better use or by reducing our taxes?
My main concern with shopping downtown is not the cost of parking but the lack of uniform shopping hours and loss of opportunity.
Last year I went downtown to buy new shoes. I left home about 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday evening. I parked my car and went to the shoe store only to find that it was closed. Most stores have shopping hours posted but this store did not. I walked across the street to smaller store that sold shoes. I asked about the store hours. The salesperson stated that the store closes at 5:30. Each store sets their own hours because they are all independent businesses. BS