Downtown Ypsilanti commuters to start paying to park in Washington Street lot by the end of the year
Ypsilanti residents will likely be paying to park in the downtown Washington Street Lot by the end of the year.
At its Tuesday night meeting, City Council approved the purchase of meters and equipment required to start charging for spaces. The cost is just more than $21,000, which officials say will be recovered from parking revenues over the next year.
Council had previously approved a Washington Street parking plan in August to start charging for the lot.
Part of the cost is offset by $7,800 in revenue generated from the city leasing 11 spots to the AATA for park and ride services at the adjacent Blake Transit Center. The city also is receiving $17,000 from Eastern Michigan University for use of four spots next to the College of Business.
The Washington Street Lot will have 30 spaces designated for people with residential and employee permits, which cost $75 every three months and could provide the city with a maximum of $6,750 in annual revenue. Right now 25 people hold passes, though that number could grow as several downtown loft projects are completed.
The lot's remaining 122 spaces would be metered for 10 hours during weekdays. City Planner Teresa Gillotti said someone would have to pay $5 in quarters if they wanted to stay the whole day, though she said it was likely most people who regularly need an entire day in downtown Ypsilanti would purchase a pass.
Prior to taking over the entire lot, the city regularly received complaints from people whose cars were “parked in” by other cars, as well as complaints about faded striping, litter and broken glass.
Comments
Pete Murdock
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
Hmm - Maybe it's that the buses won't fit in the parking structure?
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
apparently "use" is not parking? the article does not define "use". i would assume that "use" of a PARKing lot would be for PARKing.
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
"The city also is receiving $17,000 from Eastern Michigan University for use of four spots next to the College of Business." what's wrong with emu's parking structure behind the college along pearl street...?
Pete Murdock
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Perhaps the article didn't make it clear, but part of the arrangement with AATA is to grant them some spaces to be incorporated into their park and ride system. There will be no meters at those spaces and no user costs as it was explained to me. The Park and Ride program is being administered by AATA and for more details on it Contact Chris White at AATA (734) 996-0400) or email cwhite@theride.org for the details.
jns131
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
For those who need bus services to downtown Ann Arbor or anywhere else for that matter, this is a cost that will hurt ridership in the long run. Or make the ones who need the service to park where parking is free and all they have to do is walk. I drop ours off at the bus and head to work in the opposite direction. Hopefully next year we can alleviate catching a bus by ours driving finally. Whew. Good luck Ypsilanti with this one. A lot of us on fixed incomes can't afford this.
oldblueypsi
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
What are the parking enforcement costs for the city and how do these compare with the revenue generation? Paying for the parking meters and paying for the "meter maids" are separate costs. You can't spend the same money twice.
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
maybe the city has something here... why don't they pave/parking lot water project and pay for it one hour at a time?
jondhall
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.
OK this year we are paying for parking then next year they decide it is free again. It is totally unbelievable , how could a City Council with the Highest Mileage in the State come up with such "wonderful ideas"? There is not much doubt that some on the council has a PHD is some field. They have destroyed the City with all their lame brain ideas, now what little business remains they want to run away. If is was not for Haabs, the place would not warrant being on the map. How about reducing the Defined Benefit plan for the employees? Servicing the Medical costs and pension for the retirees are breaking the city coffers!
Ed Kimball
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
In other words, you don't care whose pocket the money comes from, as long as it's not yours.
A2comments
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 10:57 a.m.
Coins? Wouldn't newer technology with central paying station that also takes credit cards make more sense?
TheGerman
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.
"Part of the cost is offset by $7,800 in revenue generated from the city leasing 11 spots to the AATA for park and ride services at the adjacent Blake Transit Center." How is Ypsilanti getting money for parking spots in Ann Arbor? Or do you mean Ypsilanti Transit Center?
Jim Pryce
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
Just another way to hurt downtown businesses. Why would you pay to park to go to a downtown store, when you can park free at other shopping centers?
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 4:03 p.m.
@think! who's assuming? i simply pointed out that you missed deja vu and expressed that it's a good opportunity to help put some girls through school, since that's what most of them say when working there. i do have many more 'votes' than your post...ahem.
Maxwell
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 2:07 a.m.
The funny thing is the parking is pretty much going to be used by the patrons of "The Vu". Nearly the entire rest of the city is free two hour parking, as a matter of fact all the meters on Ferris have been removed except for the Post Office and I bet they will be recycled for this project. Congdon's has their own private spaces and the local eateries prefer metered parking on Pearl and North Huron as it aids with customer flow. Pretty much the only people who should be upset about these meters would be the patrons of The Vu... Oh - I see...
Think!
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
@dading, what exactly is your point? Is this a rallying cry for prudishness? Are there new laws I missed that make this business illegal? Age old tale of Americans loving capitalism unless it's an enterprise they don't particularly like. Have you even seen the outside of Deja Vu? Pretty tame. It's pretty quiet over there. I've seen similar window displays at plenty of women's clothing shops. I do believe when it comes to Deja Vu, facts get swept under the rug while people run with their assumptions.
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
@think, you forgot deja vu. got to help put some college girls through school.
Think!
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
Because you can't find Mix, Beezy's, World of Rocks, ModelCave, Salt City Antiques, Puffer Reds, One Twenty Three Skate Shop, Ypsilanti Cycle, Browerbird Mongo, and Congdon's Hardware at same old, tired strip malls and shopping centers.