Comment 40413

By Kiely (registered) | Posted May 06, 2010 at 11:37:45

"Free" parking is a classic case in point - it's positively toxic for downtown vitality... as if downtown wasn't already drowning in parking. - Ryan

I agree with you, but I do have a bit of a different idea on how to approach this problem in our situation Ryan.

Because of the glut of parking lots downtown, I believe there may be a case for the city to temporarily offer free parking at city lots to undermine the financials of all the private lots. If there was no longer any profits in running the vacant lot as a parking lot, perhaps this could help to get some of those lots developed? Once the private lots are gone/reduced then set the parking rate to a "deterrent" level.

Not a conventional idea I realise but one I think could work. It wouldn't be the first time a price war drove companies out of business and starting the price war at free would be hard to compete with.

An LRT and converting some downtown core streets to pedestrian use only (especially if it could block car access to some lots?) would help eliminate parking lots as well.

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