The city of Dearborn is testing the common thinking that paid parking deters business.
Starting in early 2015, user-paid parking systems in public lots and parking decks will be phased out and replaced with free time-limited parking spaces.
New spaces will be designated for 2-, 3-, 8- or 12-hour timeframes, and vehicles exceeding those time frames will be ticketed. Parking spots closest to businesses will have the most limited times to encourage turnover. Employees in the west downtown district can use longer timed spots.
The same system will eventually spread to east downtown Dearborn.
Mayor John B. O'Reilly Jr. and a city parking commission proposed the change and the city council approved it nearly two weeks ago to "encourage greater interest from real estate developers and to boost customer activity." and also to "address the perception that paid parking is an obstacle to redevelopment."
“This is a very positive step that will help us achieve our goal of promoting more investment and activity in the west downtown," O'Reilly says. "To get the best results for our local economy, we need to be realistic and remove anything that is perceived as an impediment to recreating a robust and vibrant business district.”
Source: city of Dearborn and East Downtown Dearborn Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine
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