Time for free parking in downtown Fresno

Not just the cost of parking keeps us from downtown Fresno. The mall is very attractive, but the stores and their wares are anything but, last time I was there after most name-stores had left the mall. Taking a neighbor to a government office we parked underground at the Courthouse Park. A man in uniform approached us:
-------"Ladies hold on to your purses, if anyone tries anything; hit them with it!"
There were holdups in shopping centers as well, but at least it was out on crowded surface level. Those dark parking garages are free of people. They are intimidating places. And the open-air parking lots entail a lot of walking. Not easy for the disabled . I think, for instance, Mariposa between Fulton (mall) and Courthouse Park should be parking and pedestrian. No businesses. Parking under the mall and or sides streets could have translucent tops like aquariums, with staircases straight up to the areas of shopping or other activities. Am I speaking Utopia? No! I am speaking Euro capitals with billion dollar tourist industries. Berlin, London, Paris, Vienna et.al.; like Rome "were not built in [the proverbial] one day." The rational...a city in itself has no worth if it does not serf and accommodate people....a city must be humane. Indeed there is the metropolitan psyche and there is the provincial attitude. And in this age of the motorcar, parking is a most important ingredient of the mix. Now what is Fresno? Metropolitan or Hicksville?

Jim,
I read your parking meter column in today's paper. As one who worked downtown for 35 years and paid my share of parking tickets when I forgot to feed the meter, I can tell you your proposal for no meters is actually the worst option.
With all free parking downtown, the City would lose its $6 million dollar plus annual income and visitors would have even less available parking. The reason for this is all of people who work downtown. At present, the vast majority of these workers park in private lots or in garages or lots away from the metered parking. If downtown parking were free, these workers would fill all of the free spaces with minimal to no parking turnover.
The current meter times generally allow drivers to take care of matters in proximity to where they want to be.
What the City needs to do (and the Fresno Bee could help here) is publicize the availability of its parking meter credit cards. Nearly all of the downtown meters have a slot that fits a credit card.
The City's traffic department has created a credit card with a chip on it. One can obtain the card for $1.00 and then prepay $20-$50 on the card. To use the card, one simply inserts it into the slot. In 15 minute increments, one can charge up to the maximum time allowed on the meter. Assuming the driver returns before the meter has expired, the driver re-inserts the card and is credited back the unused time. The driver needs no change and does not have to overpay for the meter.
In the many years I have used the metered parking, I am the only one I have ever seen use the card. I know there are others, but it remains one of Fresno's best kept secrets.
Thank you.
Howard K. Watkins
Fresno, CA

Parking is an "issue" in every mid to large downtown in the nation. It's just a fact of the urban environment. And it's not like all of those other downtowns don't also have to compete with suburban shopping centers that offer free parking, of course they do. So this is not an issue that is unique to Fresno. If we look at the best practices in those cities that are successful, do we see them employing a strategy of weekday, free on-street, lot AND garage parking? No. Not even close. If downtown were only a retail destination, it might work, but as long as it's also a major governmental and office center, that strategy is unwise.

Making all parking free during the workday only trades one problem: cost, for another: convenience. As history has already proven in Fresno such a move will actually HURT downtown businesses, by reducing availability of metered spaces thanks office workers who will take up every metered spot, ALL DAY.

Parking is already free on weekends and after 6:00 PM during the week, except when there's a game or concert. So we're really only talking about a Monday thru Friday 6am-6pm issue. And if you're downtown during the day, you CAN park in a garage for free, just ask your merchant to validate your parking sticker. The Downtown Association will be rolling out a new marketing push for the validation program soon. And many merchants, such as those at the Galleria, Hero's Sports Lounge, etc have their own parking lots where parking is ALWAYS free.

Another myth is that we need more lots and garages because parking is scarce in Downtown Fresno. Wrong. We're actually overbuilt. Most of the city owned garages are, at their peak, at less than 60 percent of capacity. The Underground Garage has higher occupancy numbers, but it also has the highest turnover, so spaces are almost always available. And there's also plenty of space at the private parking facilities as well.

Jim's theory that if you make parking free, people will come and business will boom, has some problems. First, the facts contradict his theory. Parking is already free after 6:00 PM and on weekends, so why is it that our garages and on-street spaces aren't currently overflowing with cars and shoppers after 6:00 PM and on weekends? And why is downtown at its busiest when parking is the most expensive? That alone tells you that there are larger issues at work here. And back when they took all of the meters out of downtown several years ago, why did that not have the intended effect of bringing people downtown?

Second, the problem isn't parking, it's PRODUCT. Improving the downtown product and experience is the real issue. Making parking free without doing first that gets us nowhere. The issue of parking is just an obstacle, and not the problem itself. And it's an obstacle which we can address in a variety of ways, such as increased usage of validation, demand based pricing, and new technology, such as the already in use "smart cards" on all of the electronic parking meters downtown, which allow you to use a refillable parking debit card, and only charges you for the time you're actually in the space.

The other problem is not parking, but awareness. There is an inverse relationship to the frequency which people visit Downtown Fresno, and the degree to which they feel parking downtown is a problem. People who visit rarely, if ever, are those who are the most worried, concerned, frustrated about the parking situation. Those who are downtown regularly are more likely to tell you that it's actually not as bad as the perception is. Columns like Jim's just feed that fire and continue to reinforce that things are worse than they actually are. We need to do a much better job of communicating the downtown message, including parking options. As President of the Downtown Association since the early part of this year, that's one of the things I'm focused on, and I know the city is as well. There's a lot of confusion out there, and we need to do everything we can to address it. You can learn more about parking, and a lot of other (more interesting) things about Downtown Fresno at:

http://www.downtownfresno.org/parking-and-maps.html

Ms. Lawson and Messrs. Watkins and More make wise and excellent observations: downtown is primarily a government services destination (with employees probably outnumbering customers by at least 4:1 each day); there is a legitimate need for parking revenues; there is excess parking capacity with much if not most of it being in garages that are nowhere near where customers need to go; and there's a lack of "product" to draw more shoppers and other casual visitors.

After due consideration, I was inexorably led to conclude the following: 1) The above issues have been around for decades and aren't going to change in my lifetime (especially the lack of "product"); and 2) The core challenge is how to expand surface street parking for customers and visitors. So, I submit that it's time to stop timidly trimming around the edges with all this talk of free parking, validations, smart cards, etc. Let's be BOLD and immediately implement my comprehensive, revenue protecting/customer-visitor friendly plan: 1) Leave the existing metering and garage fee structure in place. 2) Let people park for free on the Mall since nobody goes there anyway. 3) Issue all those greedy downtown government employees a "NO STREET PARKING" sticker for their vehicles so they can't hog all the surface spaces. Voila! Problem solved. (Have the City send my stimulus check via FedEx, pleez;-)

Another myth about Downtown is that "no one" goes to the Fulton Mall anymore. This is just simply not true. The mall is pretty much silent after 6:00 PM, but during the day, it's actually fairly busy. Vacancy rates are actually not as bad as you might find in many suburban centers on Herndon or Shaw. Now yes, it's true that the Fulton Mall isn't home to any "high-end" retailers, or many chain stores, but it does attract shoppers, and new things like the twice weekly Market on the Mall certified farmers market are bringing new people to the mall as well.

Perhaps an employer or supervisor (government or private) could ‘request’ the employee to park off the streets & in a pre-determined lot. An element of trust would be established among all the people. Isn’t Fresno a small town? It might be pivotal in Fresno’s growth to high density urbanism to remain singular in regards to its small town atmosphere. When density increases along Kings Canyon Road corridor & Blackstone Ave. corridor, High Speed Rail station, existing AMTRAK station, Bus Rapid Transit, traffic circulating trolley downtown, Personal Rapid Transit, light rail, transit villages, activity centers, network of landscaped bicycle and pedestrian trails, and existing efficient ‘green’ busses with 15 minute wait times would supplant the obsession of a private car for work & events downtown. The heart of Fresno doesn’t need defective valves, stents or hardening arteries. Be healthy. The Fulton Mall is a treasure. I’m in 100% agreement with 100% free parking downtown. Vision first, implementation follows vision.
Thanks, Randy Nelson

Most of the vibrant downtowns in the USA I have visited do not have free parking.In some cases you get validated parking in buildings or parking structures...but that's it.It cost me $20 to park a 1/2 mile away from Petco Park in San Diego and that's average...BTW,that downtown rocks because people want to go there no matter what it costs to park...Free parking would also be counter to the greenies wanting everybody to car pool on skateboards to stop Global Warming/Cooling/Whatever...Tell me why I should want to go to downtown Fresno...parking has nothing to do with it for me.

Unfortunately, this issue will never be solved as long as the city and associations (whos supposed mission is to promote downtown) continues to employee persons/people whos vision for downtown is to maintain the status quo and continue to makes excuses on why the city should not implement any progressive ideas. Seriously, another marketing campaign to inform people of how downtown parking works? Isn't this like the 8 thousandth one? What makes this campaign different from ones in the past? It may confuse people even more thinking there is another change going on with downtown parking...when in fact there is none...its just going to keep people in this city, who have seen and heard thousands of downtown parking schemes/campaigns in the past decade or so, from having another reason to stay away from downtown.

The problem has to to alot with personal liability. I have heard from several people about the risk associated with consuming alcohol and driving home from Grizzly Stadium. I have several friends who I hang out with who don't drink at all, no problem. However, on a hot afternoon, on a night off from working hard, I'm not going to sit outside and watch a game without beer in my fist. There used to be a time when discretion was used about enforcing the motor vehicle laws. Now, whether or not you have been observed driving impaired, everyone that is .08 (sometimes lower) is subject to draconian measures. Fine, you have created a world of unimpaired buyers who think long enough about what they need that they spend less. Now for example, anyone who has lived in Fresno knows about the Old Fresno Hofbrau, a fine establishment where one could have a couple of beers and an incomparible beef sandwich after work and head home, not anymore. They closed, and I know that enforcement styles have alot to do with why it did. Where was it located?...downtown Fresno. Who were some of its best patrons, they know who they are. Those days are over because impaired drivers crashed into innocent people. That a bazillion folks are driving around using cell phones on the highway does not seem to matter, when it matters most, as a driver is actually demonstrating impairment. Now I sit at home and watch plasma tv with a cold ale in my hand while Fresnans anguish about the chemistry which would revitalize the downtown.

What is that all about? How rude! See below.

Bart Turnipseed replied to comment from ed | July 15, 2009 8:02 AM | Reply
Ok ed, then just disregard my entry, I failed to tailor it just for you. You should have told them the hat was worth nothing to you, that it misrepresented you in all ways... and for them to keep it.

I've been thinking about revitalization of the downtown area a lot lately; comparing our downtown to cities with successful downtowns. The price of parking has nothing to do with their success. What they do have in common is that they have retained their identity or created one. Some towns have kept the essence of their historic past, others have a old west feel or art deco or mission era. The chosen identity doesn't necessarily mean there can't be new construction; it just means it must conform to a style. They also hold events downtown, closing off the streets, etc. Our downtown is a mish-mash of styles and eras. We have let our historic buildings be bulldozed and historic neighborhoods go to blight. The biggest mistake was the Fresno City Hall Building. Sure it's modern but it looks like a huge hubcap and has nothing in common with any of the surrounding buildings. Yet we have some beautiful examples right around it like the Muex Mansion, the old catholic church, water tower, etc. that we could have styled it after bringing a cohesive feel to downtown. Our government buildings should be interspersed with shops and cafes but we put the government in one location and try to segregate the shops into Fulton Mall. People like to stroll, enjoy architecture, experience the feeling of a city's identity. Fresno's downtown is compartmentalized and lacks an cohesive identity. Parking is of course important but it can be created within the theme of the area. People don't mind paying as much as not having options. Successful cities with little parking generally have a good transportation or shuttle system making access easy. Fresno's downtown is dead because our lack of planning and foresight has killed it. Parking is not the culprit.

Hey Bart, I actually got the point you were trying to make. I think a lot of places are also suffering for the same reasons. Gone are the days when we used to stop in to The Pub after work for a couple and a game of pool.

Include me with the group who doesn't think parking fees and meters will make or break downtown. People will pay if there's a reason to go. The 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica (primarily shopping and restaurants) is always crowded and it's at least $5.00, usually more.

ed; if you count Bart Turnipseed's typos, you shall be busy for quite a while.

Your beehive name multilator
Isabell Lawson

Interesting how downtown parking morphed into a beer tasting thread.

A beer tasting thread with a "Costco "Kirkland" variety case of handcrafted beers," which cracked me up.

Parking.
Way too much parking in downtown Fresno. The “formulas” for the developer to obtain a building permit are arrived at by observing parking for as few as five instances at buildings in suburbs with no transit & free parking. This data is published and is a “bible” for all city planners. The developers will not even try to negotiate the arbitrary, meaningless number of stalls required. Time is money. They build the parking stalls. In Palo Alto, the “number” of stalls is reduced by 50% from the “number”. A landscaped reserve is substituted for the 50%. To date, they haven’t had to pave parking stalls on the landscaped reserves. The current code is harmful to the entire city of Fresno and makes the automobile “king”. Sprawl results through the recurring cycle of lane enhancement and more parking spaces. In addition, air quality worsens, parking and traffic congestion are intolerable. Parking is neglected in the education curriculum of all city planners because it doesn’t exist and people feel that parking is simply not an issue. “The High Cost of Free Parking”.