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Royal Oak resident Kevin Konczal, one-time
candidate for mayor, writes:
If you had a
business in downtown Royal Oak....wouldn't you want to make it as
convenient a place to visit as possible? It's too bad that the
City Commission (and/or the DDA) doesn't see that with their
parking regulations.
Two hour meters
for street parking for one. So, are they limiting the time for
people to stay and visit? Sure, they'd like people to park in the
parking structures...but what they would like and what visitors
know - are two different things (like someone visiting from
outside the area would know that). What visitors do know is it is
a pain in the butt to have to go out (in the snow or rain) and
either move their car (which most won't do) or put more money in
the meters (when they should have been allowed to put it in all at
one time, stay longer, support downtown businesses and pay taxes
on their purchases)
I know some of
the merchants would rather have 1/2 hour or 15 minute parking on
the streets so people can get in and out fast...but if you look at
the demographics, I would imagine the bulk of the visitors
coming downtown are there for more than 15 minutes or a half
hour.
The other issue
I have is the no street
parking between 2:00 and 6:00 am. Let's suppose you drank a
little too much and you try to do the responsible thing (which
doesn't make the city any money by averting a DUI) and you parked
on the street. By law - you have to get in your car and move it
or risk a sure ticket or worse - being towed. One
day, someone will go to court for a DUI and say they had no choice
- the city made them drive instead of leaving their car there and
taking a cab, or for us locals - walking home.
Asked by
VersagiVoice for comments re Konczal's thoughts,
Downtown retailer and former city commissioner Laura Harrison
responded:
Frank: I will try to keep this
short, but you know parking is one of those convoluted
issues. A lot of history and very little satisfaction.
As a retail business, I prefer
the two hour meters on the street ONLY. All parking lots
should be longer, up to five hours. Now, in this age of
computerized everything, I understand there are meters out
there that can be set to do all kinds of great things, like
two hours limit during the day and longer after, say, 7pm. I
bet you could find a meter that does dishes on the side but I
digress.
As far as the city is
concerned, the number one concern is
MONEY
and lots of it. They have absolutely zero regard for the downtown businesses
and the fact that the economy is in the tank. As I have
learned both as a retailer and a commissioner, absolutely no
one at city hall has a clue what goes on in the real world.
I fought the raising of the fines
from $5.00 to $8.00 and it has had a reaction on the daytime
customers.
Another conclusion I have reached is that most
of the visitors downtown are "destination" shoppers or diners.
Probably 75%. And 85% in the winter.
Finally, I don't understand about this no
parking between 2 and 6 am. Is that in certain areas? I have
seen cars parked on 6th by the store overnight, usually Sundays
and no tickets. I am wondering if this restriction is on the
east side of main by the senior high-rise. But I do agree with
the writer regarding that.
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Also:
Search for "Parking" in
City Commission
reports and in DDA coverage.
Androff on
Farmers Market parking
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