NORFOLK
The city is weighing the possibility of raising rates at downtown parking garages, at a time when light-rail construction and the recession already have dealt downtown businesses a double blow of economic woe.
The rate increases would be the first since 2001 and would not affect the monthly parking rates paid by most downtown employees.
But some people visiting downtown at night would face higher rates, and fees at all downtown lots for special events would increase $1 per entry.
Daytime rates for more distant lots, including Scope and Harbor Park, would increase about 25 cents per hour.
City officials said downtown parking rates still will remain lower than most comparable cities. "Our rates would still be far lower than Richmond's," City Manager Regina V.K.
Williams said, citing parking costs of up to $3 an hour in that city's garages.
Even so, Downtown Norfolk Council head Cathy Coleman, who helps represent downtown business interests, said "the timing is the biggest challenge."
Construction for light rail and other projects such as the Wachovia Center, a new office tower and the Belmont at Freemason apartment complex have caused traffic disruptions for more than a year. The recession has also cut into the lucrative Granby Street restaurant business.
Williams acknowledged that, in hindsight, the city should have raised rates years ago.
"It's not the best time, but we've got to manage a parking fund that hasn't had an increase in eight years," she said.
"We've gotten to the point where we've got to raise rates to cover our expenses."
The city operates most of the 9,000 parking spaces downtown. It does so with a $22 million yearly budget that pays to build new garages and operate existing garages and lots. By city code, the garages must pay for themselves. No funding comes from general tax funds; operations are supported by parking fees.
Assistant City Manager Stanley A. Stein said the city's costs, especially salaries for parking attendants, have risen in the past eight years. The city also will be spending more than $1 million to install surveillance cameras in all downtown garages.
If the city doesn't raise fees, Stein said, the parking fund will begin showing a deficit. The fee increases would result in about $2.1 million of new revenue, he said.
The City Council, which must approve an increase, has yet to discuss the issue. Williams said she will likely recommend that the increase go into effect later this year.
Her proposal includes:
- In more remote lots, such as Harbor Park and Scope, fees will increase to $1 an hour for the first three hours from 75 cents. Parking all day will decrease to $12 from $14.
- Special event parking, including at Harborfest and other large downtown festivals, will increase to $5 from $4.
- New one-time entry fees will be implemented most nights, replacing the hourly rate structure. At 6 p.m., it will cost $3. At 9 p.m., the fee goes up to $5. The 9 p.m. entry fee is being proposed to end traffic jams at 2 a.m. as downtown garages empty.
The Downtown Norfolk Council board plans to discuss the issue at its next meeting, Coleman said.
Parking is free at Virginia Beach's Town Center, located 20 minutes east of downtown. Coleman acknowledged that Town Center competes with downtown Norfolk for restaurant and entertainment dollars.
"That is where the balance needs to be struck and where our board needs to weigh in," she said.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Parking
I routinely park in a Norfolk lot using pre-paid stickers priced at 75 cents each. No more than 4-6 stickers can be used per visit. On countless occasions I have had to argue with attendants as to how much 4 x 75 cents is - to most people that would be $3. Deducting $3 from eg: $4.50 actual parking fee can result in a five minute delay involving adding and multiplying, usually resulting in an incorrect amount. How hard can this be? And therefore, WHY would 'the city's costs, especially salaries for parking attendants, have risen in the past eight years...' if said parking attendants (not all, some do have mathematical skills) cannot ADD!
Hassle over parking.
I don't like to shop where there is a hassle over parking. Why not just move the stores out of Norfolk to an area where there is free parking. That would make a lot more sense.
it is justified
Some of you must have never been to a city where parking in the downtown area is cheap -----it isn't. No one wants to see price increases, but the fact is with the increase, Norfolk's parking rates are still low by comparison. If you can't afford the new price increase, then you probably really couldn't afford the old one.
aalto
The extension of the Tide to the Oceanfront via VBTC is only about 5-6 years away. I believe 90 percent of the readers up here will be alive then. And the train runs every 7.5 minutes when its starts next year. Not 10. && If you were to look at the Plan as time goes on and they order more trains the trains will not only increase capacity but also increase frequency.
More that parkig issues. . . .
Norfolk is an armpit, so it's hard to see where it's "competing" with Virginia Beach's Towncenter. Towncenter is cleaner, has better restaurants, better shops, better lighting, better parking. . . . You get the idea. I read more people moved out of Norfolk than in last year, you think they (City) would get a clue.
exaggeration
I got the $2 figure from rj23320’s original posting. I was exaggerating on the amount of gas but it would still likley cost about $5 in gas using your figures. In any event, my time is more valuable than to spend about an extra hour of driving (half hour each way) just to save a couple of dollars for parking.
Where
Which garage in norfolk offers a $2.00 parking fee?
Which beach are you going to that costs $10.00 in gas to get to? That is about 5 gallons of gas, at an average 20 mpg, so you are driving 100 miles to get to a beach? Outer banks beach?
amused
While I agree that it's a bone-headed move by Norfolk, I'm having a good laugh at people who would spend extra time and $10 in gas to go to the Beach to avoid a $2 parking fee.
WHAT ???
Just another item to ad to my list ," why to stay the hell out of Norfolk"!
Dear MTMSR
I hope your young. You sure are going to have a long wait for that train.
And if it ever comes about, you will have your choice of seats. Based on historical mass transit use, about 12,000 people will use the service. That's 12,000 people a month. 400 a day.
It's funny....
the city is limiting parking spaces, then increasing the fees on the few that remain, all with the hopes that people will ride the train. Here's the not so funny part, especially for the guy who said that he couldn't wait to ride the Tide to and from Harbor Park... if the stadium is half full, figure 6000 people, and even 1/3 use the Tide, which can only handle a max of 220 riders per train, and the train is only running a maximum of 1 train per every 10 minutes, you do math and tell me how long you will be sitting out in the open waiting for a train after a game? Hope it isn't raining.
go ahead
Go ahead and raise the fees. People will stop visiting in the areas affected by the fee. Hotels? guess what people stop staying in them. You pay to stay at the hotel and you also have to pay to park your car/suv/van. I work with groups settiing up conventions guess what I am already doing. Telling my customers to go elsewhere. Do not stay in downtown Norfolk. Do not stay in any hotel that you have to pay to park your vehicle. Oh yeah people if you do stay at a hotel in the area, watch your bill. Last Time I stayed at the Marriott they charge me for valet parking. Guess what I did not even have a vehical. Last time I stayed there. will never go back.
What is Norfolk trying to do?
The City of Norfolk keeps giving people more and more good reasons to stay away from downtown. They really need to re-think their budget and find another way to pay for parking or else they're going to lose out to Virginia Beach's Town Center and other places.
Back to the old downtown of the late 70's early 80's.
The City is putting more and more business's out of business and running those who can move away. In most cases milking more and more money from the general public at every turn will lose you money in the long run.
At this rate of total gridlock downtown, No parking or pay theough the nose, rental costs skyhigh due to overinflated property values and sky high taxes etc etc Downtown Norfolk is on it's way back to the late 70's early 80's.
Gotta pay to be killed I guess...
WoW! Now the city is proposing that you have to pay to park in order to have the possibility of being shot and killed in a public parking garage.
Great move!!!
i hard about this property inspection
on WAVY-10 a couple weeks ago....then nothing. It was stated at that time that not only would the exterior be inspected but inspectors would ask those who answered their door if they could come in to look.
Wow. This is exactly what I fear the most -- government actually IN our homes.
Bad move Norfolk.... Ill
Bad move Norfolk....
Ill keep going to Virginia Beach's Town Center, where I dont have to pay to park.
The paper must have missed this!
Beginning April 20, the Norfolk Real Estate Assessor’s office will begin a five year field review program that will include a physical inspection of every residential and commercial property in the City of Norfolk.
Field reviews will be conducted Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am – 5 pm. The neighborhood inspections will take place from April through July for the next five years. Prior to initiating the inspection of a particular property, the appraiser will make the appropriate introduction at the door. If the owner/occupant is not home, an exterior review will be conducted and a notice will be left informing the owner of the visit. Digital images of each property, including views of assessable improvements will be collected as additional confirmation of the property characteristics.
All employees conducting the reviews will wear large, clearly displayed City of Norfolk identification badges. The employees will be driving marked City of Norfolk vehicles. Residents are encouraged to call either the Office of the Real Estate Assessor at (757) 664-4732 or the Police Department Non-Emergency line at (757) 441-5610 if they have any questions as to the validity
Parking downtown already
Parking downtown already sucks. Let's make it worse!
choo choo
Sure will be nice to park for free at Newtown Station (and eventually VBTC), hop the Tide for less than what it costs to park at Waterside Garage (and probably less than I would burn in gas going there and back), and be able to go to Harbor Park or into downtown without having to deal with I 264 traffic or gridlocked streets. Anyone remember the traffic fiasco back in April when the Orioles played the Nationals?
I'm thinking those from points east that work downtown and pay the crazy monthly parking fees are thinking the same thing. Imagine...not having to sit in traffic backed up because of a Berkley Bridge lift or accident in the tunnel. Getting to work on time every day. Being able to relax and read a book or chill with your iPod while on the way in.
Go ahead, Norfolk. Raise your parking fees. I won't be paying them.