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The previously approved 50% parking rate increase throughout Downtown and The Short North has been halted for six months pending further study and additional recommendations by the parking meter working group assigned to oversee rate adjustments. The resetting of the meters will begin as early as tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone who helped to support the online petition and who voiced their concerns with this issue. Please take a moment to contact The Mayor’s Office and the Public Service Department and thank them for addressing this issue.
Great news, but I thought the average CU poster hated cars and those who drive them? Won’t this increase the number of people who drive downtown? I think that if they extend hours, the money should be saved to build more parking garages in the SN and downtown that would be really cheap (like the dollar it costs to park as South Campus Gateway). The simple fact is these areas will never compete with Easton/Polaris/Grandview Yard on a retail level if parking isn’t free or at least very cheap and easy. I think City Center proved that.
lol…City Center had parking that was cheap and easy.
They must have seen my political cartoon.
as a resident of SoHud, I for one wouldn’t mind seeing meters extend all the way to Clintonville. I have often wondered why the city had never put meters all along high st. I wouldn’t even mind them on 4th & Summit Streets. Most of the houses here have offstreet parking, so a lot of the revenue would come from people visiting or partying, which happens a lot in the campus area.
If they do roll out the credit card meters, perhaps they could issue one card per household to ppl who live on these larger streets so they wouldn’t have to pay.
Lastly, I totally agree with John Angelo’s plan to extend the hours of the meters in the Short North. I would extend them to 10pm and make an agreement with the valet companies that they have to pay for the meters, too. The short north is a huge “drive to” destination and it follows that people should expect to pay to park when they go there.
Thanks to the City for listening!
mstimple Says: I thought the average CU poster hated cars and those who drive them?
It sounds like you’re taking the words of a very small handful of people (2 people? maybe?) and trying to insert them into the mouths of hundreds of other people. I’m sure you’re just joking… but please don’t do that.
From the recent conversations I’ve had and what I’ve seen here, it sounds as though extending meter hours is far less controversial than increasing meter rates. It’s even a little surprising that they haven’t been extended already.
My suspicion is that the city would have to increase manhours to cover the increased meter hours patrol. But logically, wouldn’t the extra income would offset the additional manhour costs? Personally, I think extending meter hours is a great idea. It gives me hope of actually finding a meter in the evening.
I sure didn’t see any animosity when the mayor jumped on stage for Halloween Highball a few weeks back, did you?
http://bit.ly/7D9uzy
As someone who works the the SN, I HATE the idea of extending the meters till 9. I try and be nice and not use off street parking if I’m going to be at work past 5 pm so all the people who DO live in the neighborhood there can park, BUT if they dropped the rates a little bit it wouldn’t be so bad I guess.. I guess i should stop being nice :P
Columbus Dispatch Editorial: Short takes
Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:59 AM
• MAYOR MICHAEL B. Coleman acted wisely when he decided to rescind a recently imposed increase in parking-meter rates.
Downtown and Short North business owners complained that they were not adequately consulted before city officials imposed the rate increase Nov. 30.
They feared that the new rates would hurt their businesses during the vital Christmas season, on top of the downturns they’ve suffered as a result of the recession.
Coleman remains committed to raising more revenue from parking to help finance a new hotel near the Greater Columbus Convention Center and replace aging parking meters. But he recognizes that it is better to work with business owners to achieve this, rather than alienating them. An advisory council will take up to six months to come up with a plan.
So, how about a toll booth for drivers upon entering Easton & Polaris?