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

[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?

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...

Agreed about the meter comment.  Jacksonville's meters are outdated technology and logic.  Like I said before, get rid of them altogether or replace them with the one kiosk per block that accept credit cards that every other city is trending towards.  Probably better to replace them with the kiosk so you don't have one person hogging a spot all day and night.

[Tacachale]

The parking meters are lame, but to me the bigger issue is at night when there are events and street parking gets full. The meters don't even run at that time, but I've found myself not attending events because I don't want to fight for (or pay for) parking. For me it's much worse on the weekends when the Skyway isn't running.

[Andy]

It's amazing how the even the most minor inconvenience scares the hell out of Jacksonville residents.

Pay a couple bucks nearby. Walk a block or two for free. Take the skyway for free. This really isn't that big of a headache. I don't know why we insist on being spoiled children about it.

[Debbie Thompson]

A co-worker went to Sweet Pete's and loved it, but complained about not them not having any parking. The street spots were taken and they had to park in the garage WAY over by the library.  Hello.  That's like 1-1/2 blocks.  It's just a fact we have become spoiled because of mall parking and suburban strip malls where we can park outside the door.  Those of us who live in the urban core and go downtown often know it's not a big deal to walk 2 blocks.  But suburbanites who are already (unrealistically) afraid downtown don't want to walk a couple of blocks.  (And being honest, not my favorite thing to do either, walking alone after hours when not many people are around.)

[thelakelander]

Finding a space 1.5 blocks away from the front door is a good spot at SJTC.

[Debbie Thompson]

Oops. My ignorance is showing.  I avoid SJTC like the plague.

[Tacachale]

I once went to kickbacks with some friends, who brought along their coworkers from the Southside. One of them said, only half joking, that it couldn't be the best beer bar in town if it didn't have "good parking". I pointed out we walked less distance from the car to Kickbacks than we did at the restaurant on the Southside where we had dinner, and it was down a well lit street with sidewalks instead of across a big parking lot. It went right over his head.

[CCMjax]

A co-worker went to Sweet Pete's and loved it, but complained about not them not having any parking. The street spots were taken and they had to park in the garage WAY over by the library.  Hello.  That's like 1-1/2 blocks.  It's just a fact we have become spoiled because of mall parking and suburban strip malls where we can park outside the door.  Those of us who live in the urban core and go downtown often know it's not a big deal to walk 2 blocks.  But suburbanites who are already (unrealistically) afraid downtown don't want to walk a couple of blocks.  (And being honest, not my favorite thing to do either, walking alone after hours when not many people are around.)

Yes, this is the great misconception that people have when it comes to parking and it is hilarious to me.  That they are often times actually walking further from the parking lot spot to the store or establishment they are going to at Avenues or the Town Center than they would be to park on the street for free or in a garage 1.5 blocks away from wherever they are going downtown or in the core neighborhoods.