You think there's not enough parking Downtown? There's more than 43,500 spaces

[thelakelander]

So downtown has a parking problem? Just imagine if we had just as many people downtown as parking spaces?

You think there's not enough parking Downtown? There's more than 43,500 public spots

By Max Marbut, Staff Writer

One of the most common misconceptions about Downtown is it's difficult to find a place to park when you visit the neighborhood.
According to Downtown Vision Inc., which keeps up with all of the urban core's statistics, there are more than 43,500 public parking spaces along the streets at meters, in surface lots, parking garages and in peripheral lots adjacent to the sports complex and in LaVilla.

With 3,196 spaces at four multilevel garages and three surface lots, plus about 1,600 parking meters, the city is the largest operator of public parking Downtown.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546063

[fsujax]

Still a ghost town, eh?

[CCMjax]

Ha ha, exactly.  And the biggest misconception within downtown (before parador parking garage) was that the Landing did not have adequate parking.  It was only inadequate if you ignore the thousands of spots available in parking garages and surface lots 1 to 2 blocks away. 

[thelakelander]

The Landing has a "dedicated" parking problem. That doesn't necessarily mean we need to add to downtown's existing parking supply.  That is a situation that could be resolved through the utilization of an existing lot or structure for the dedicated needs of the Landing.

[Captain Zissou]

I think the problem is that there's not enough FREE parking downtown.  I don't mind walking 3 blocks, but if you want me to pay more than a dollar you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. That's a big advantage that the Town Center and the urban shopping areas have, free parking. 

[CCMjax]

I think the problem is that there's not enough FREE parking downtown.  I don't mind walking 3 blocks, but if you want me to pay more than a dollar you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. That's a big advantage that the Town Center and the urban shopping areas have, free parking.

Geeeeeeeesh!  Do you know how cheap downtown parking is in Jacksonville compared to other cities?  Amazing people would rather go to a shopping mall to save $2.  I can understand going to a shopping mall because maybe they have a particular store you like or because it's close to your home, but parking?  Really?  You have to walk just as far from the parking lot to the store you want to go to as you would downtown, maybe further, finding parking can be just as difficult unless you're going to Regency, and to save 2 dollars?  Parking is free on the street on the weekends and after 6 on weekdays downtown so if you're going during those times you wouldn't be losing any $$.  Am I missing something?

[thelakelander]

^I'm also one who refuses to pay more than a dollar to park anywhere in DT Jax. Mentioning the cost to park in other cities means nothing to me.  I don't mind paying to access vibrancy. However, in DT Jax, I rather my change go to support the struggling businesses down here or in tips to the low wage workers employed by them. My firm covers my parking cost, so I don't worry about it now. When they didn't, I parked on-street in the Southbank and rode the Skyway. Other days, I'd park on Laura, north of State & Union and walk the four blocks.

[Bativac]

Geeeeeeeesh!  Do you know how cheap downtown parking is in Jacksonville compared to other cities?  Amazing people would rather go to a shopping mall to save $2.  I can understand going to a shopping mall because maybe they have a particular store you like or because it's close to your home, but parking?  Really?  You have to walk just as far from the parking lot to the store you want to go to as you would downtown, maybe further, finding parking can be just as difficult unless you're going to Regency, and to save 2 dollars?  Parking is free on the street on the weekends and after 6 on weekdays downtown so if you're going during those times you wouldn't be losing any $$.  Am I missing something?

Other cities have things happening downtown making it worth paying more than a dollar to park. Not a fair comparison.

Personally I've never had an issue finding on-street parking downtown, whenever I've gone - evenings, weekends, business hours, etc. I have noticed most of the parking garages are closed after business hours and on weekends so counting them doesn't really give an accurate reflection of the amount of parking available... but still, the city is never so crowded - even during Art Walk or a Jags game - that on-street parking isn't available somewhere.

[spuwho]

Parking cost in Jacksonville is minor. For me its a matter of perspective.

Having lived/worked in Chicago with $24 daily parking in the Loop (on the rare time I drove) and even more for daily parking at OHare, paying a buck or two for convenience is a nit.

On biz trips out of JIA I can easily park in hourly because the daily rate on the expense report is still loads less than my peers out of NYC or ORD or SFO.

I would like to see an inventory report on Jax parking garage volumes and the trends over a year. Would be interesting to see where the sweet spots are and where the spots are wasted and subsidized.

[jaxjaguar]

As Bativac said, and I've stated in the past, I don't think it's fair to count most of the garage spaces as they are closed after business hours / are owned by First Baptist and closed every day, but Sunday. Another issue is 90% of the meters only accept change. If they all accepted credit cards I think it would make things much easier for downtown visitors.

Make the parking free until the desirability goes up (just set limits so cars don't sit in the same spot for days) and then start charging when you have a sustainable product.

[ProjectMaximus]

^yeah the hassle is an annoying factor. Just two days ago I put a quarter in a change only meter and when I turned the knob the needle didnt budge. Luckily for me there was a meter maid (i mean parking enforcement officer) writing a ticket 15 ft away and I made enough noise to pull him into the situation. He fiddled with my meter and then said to me: well, I'm around. So you're good.

I really wasn't 100% confident, but when I came back 30 min later I had no ticket.

[Captain Zissou]

I think the problem is that there's not enough FREE parking downtown.  I don't mind walking 3 blocks, but if you want me to pay more than a dollar you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. That's a big advantage that the Town Center and the urban shopping areas have, free parking.

Geeeeeeeesh!  Do you know how cheap downtown parking is in Jacksonville compared to other cities?  Amazing people would rather go to a shopping mall to save $2.  I can understand going to a shopping mall because maybe they have a particular store you like or because it's close to your home, but parking?  Really?  You have to walk just as far from the parking lot to the store you want to go to as you would downtown, maybe further, finding parking can be just as difficult unless you're going to Regency, and to save 2 dollars?  Parking is free on the street on the weekends and after 6 on weekdays downtown so if you're going during those times you wouldn't be losing any $$.  Am I missing something?

Don't pop a blood vessel.  I said I don't mind the walk, and I'm rarely ever at the town center.  I live in San Marco and work in Riverside, so when deciding where to go my only considerations are SM, Avondale, 5 Points, or Downtown (beaches on weekends). Usually I end up in 5 points or San Marco.

What bothers me about downtown is the inconsistency in enforcement and rules for each lot and garage. On the west side of downtown I can always find street parking (need to feed my salted caramel addiction at least once a week), but when I'm headed to Dos Gatos, Super Food, & Chomp Chomp it's a different story.  There's the lot next to DG that issues the fake tickets that only enforces parking about a half the time.  I think it's the same, but behind Burro Bar & Chomp Chomp they almost never enforces parking, but sometimes they do.  Both of these lots are a hassle to pay for parking in and neither is well maintained.  I usually just park in the Eddie Farah lot and walk wherever I need to go, but that lot gets filled up by people doing the same thing as me.  Sometimes I park farther east down Forsyth or Monroe, but it can get dicey depending on what time I leave to head home.

[sarcasm]  Thanks for telling me how much it costs to park in other cities. I've never been to one so I had no idea.  That's also totally relevant to this conversation.  When I get fed up trying to find a space downtown sometimes I just throw up my hands and say "UGGGHHH Forget This!!! I'm just going to drive to Atlanta or Miami for dinner!!" [/sarcasm]

[CCMjax]

I think the problem is that there's not enough FREE parking downtown.  I don't mind walking 3 blocks, but if you want me to pay more than a dollar you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. That's a big advantage that the Town Center and the urban shopping areas have, free parking.

Geeeeeeeesh!  Do you know how cheap downtown parking is in Jacksonville compared to other cities?  Amazing people would rather go to a shopping mall to save $2.  I can understand going to a shopping mall because maybe they have a particular store you like or because it's close to your home, but parking?  Really?  You have to walk just as far from the parking lot to the store you want to go to as you would downtown, maybe further, finding parking can be just as difficult unless you're going to Regency, and to save 2 dollars?  Parking is free on the street on the weekends and after 6 on weekdays downtown so if you're going during those times you wouldn't be losing any $$.  Am I missing something?

Don't pop a blood vessel.  I said I don't mind the walk, and I'm rarely ever at the town center.  I live in San Marco and work in Riverside, so when deciding where to go my only considerations are SM, Avondale, 5 Points, or Downtown (beaches on weekends). Usually I end up in 5 points or San Marco.

What bothers me about downtown is the inconsistency in enforcement and rules for each lot and garage. On the west side of downtown I can always find street parking (need to feed my salted caramel addiction at least once a week), but when I'm headed to Dos Gatos, Super Food, & Chomp Chomp it's a different story.  There's the lot next to DG that issues the fake tickets that only enforces parking about a half the time.  I think it's the same, but behind Burro Bar & Chomp Chomp they almost never enforces parking, but sometimes they do.  Both of these lots are a hassle to pay for parking in and neither is well maintained.  I usually just park in the Eddie Farah lot and walk wherever I need to go, but that lot gets filled up by people doing the same thing as me.  Sometimes I park farther east down Forsyth or Monroe, but it can get dicey depending on what time I leave to head home.

[sarcasm]  Thanks for telling me how much it costs to park in other cities. I've never been to one so I had no idea.  That's also totally relevant to this conversation.  When I get fed up trying to find a space downtown sometimes I just throw up my hands and say "UGGGHHH Forget This!!! I'm just going to drive to Atlanta or Miami for dinner!!" [/sarcasm]

Too late, I already popped a couple blood vessels and blew a fuse while writing my initial response.  I get your first post now but it should have left out the comparison to the Town Center and shopping malls because the whole experience of parking at Avenues and Town Center is one of my least favorite things to do in life, and I have suffered many popped blood vessels during those experiences and that's what got me going.  Also, I have never had a problem parking on the street downtown for free after 6 or on weekends, which is when you would most likely go to the Town Center or a mall.  Often times I have been able to park right outside the establishment I was going to, literally within 20 ft of the door.  And I've never had a problem finding a parking garage that was open late when I needed it.  And I think the most I've ever paid was about $3 maybe (more at the stadium grounds obviously)?  My point was, and also point of mentioning other cities, was that there isn't really much to complain about when looking at the cost to park downtown, if any cost here in Jax.  I mentioned other cities because I had a flashback moment when I paid $40 to park in a downtown Chicago garage for a couple hours and explained to my friend that this is why everyone takes public transit here.  I think your point was more that you think there needs to be less sketchy parking downtown in terms of enforcement and safety, not cost? 

Also, I think we all agree that metered parking is stupid in Jacksonville and as the other poster commented, it should not exist in Jacksonville or they should have the kiosks that except credit cards.  Nobody caries change anymore, like nobody has a flip phone anymore.  Is this something Curry is planning on changing anyone know?

[Sentient]

I think the problem is that there's not enough FREE parking downtown.  I don't mind walking 3 blocks, but if you want me to pay more than a dollar you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. That's a big advantage that the Town Center and the urban shopping areas have, free parking.

Geeeeeeeesh!  Do you know how cheap downtown parking is in Jacksonville compared to other cities?  Amazing people would rather go to a shopping mall to save $2.  I can understand going to a shopping mall because maybe they have a particular store you like or because it's close to your home, but parking?  Really?  You have to walk just as far from the parking lot to the store you want to go to as you would downtown, maybe further, finding parking can be just as difficult unless you're going to Regency, and to save 2 dollars?  Parking is free on the street on the weekends and after 6 on weekdays downtown so if you're going during those times you wouldn't be losing any $$.  Am I missing something?

It's not going to cost you a dollar at a meter when you go over and zealous enforcement bangs a $25 ticket on your car.  There is zero argument for meters in downtown, it just drives people away.  and a  lot of places are closed on the weekend and after 6 PM as well...

[Captain Zissou]

^ I agree sentient.  With the lots, often times you won't see an attendant to hand copious amounts of money to when you park, but you'll come back 20 minutes later to a fake ticket on the windshield.  We should get the Passport Parking app here so we can pay via smartphone.