Downtown decked with free parking

Published: Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 12:17 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
It's beginning to look a lot like the Christmas shopping season in Salt Lake City.

Downtown parking meters are covered in green bags and wrapped with gold bows, allowing holiday shoppers to park for free on city streets for up to two hours.

Mayor Ralph Becker joined Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen and local business leaders Wednesday outside Squatters Pub Brewery, 147 W. 300 South, to celebrate the start of the holiday season and encourage Utahns to visit downtown.

"From ice skating at the Gallivan Center to the myriad of holiday shows and concerts and the magnificent lights displayed throughout downtown, this truly is a magical time to enjoy the city — not to mention the free parking," Becker said.

The City Council voted unanimously in October to continue the holiday tradition of free metered parking during the holiday shopping season. The city began the practice in 2003.

By offering the free parking, the city will be missing out on an estimated $150,000 in potential revenue — $100,000 in coins paid into the city's 2,100-plus parking meters and $50,000 in fines for parking-meter violations.

Story continues below
In June, the council toyed with the idea of doing away with free parking during the holidays, as well as on evenings and weekends, as a way to boost revenues and help balance a challenging 2008-09 fiscal-year budget.

A flood of negative feedback from local business owners and those who frequent downtown quickly changed council members' minds.

"It really does make a big difference to the businesses located downtown," said Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance.

City leaders and business owners are hoping that construction work doesn't deter shoppers from visiting downtown. The former downtown ZCMI Center and Crossroads Plaza shopping hub has been torn down in preparation for City Creek Center, an estimated $1.5 billion retail, residential and office development set to open in 2012.

The Gateway is open, Simonsen noted, as are many local businesses that line Main and surrounding streets.

"You may discover many local businesses and places to eat," he said.


E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

Recent comments

There's only 2 hours of free parking downtown? What a crock! Can't...

Jordan T. | Nov. 27, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

It's still not enough to get me downtown. The parking enforcement...

Not Enough | Nov. 27, 2008 at 7:43 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

No, students are NOT safe from predators. If a parent wants to make sure...

If you really think Mormon's are mainstream, you must not have paid attention...

I don't see the schools presidents voting to get rid of WYM or NM, even...

Big games keep UHSAA coffers full

why people complain about how football is covered by the media too much. when...

A little perspective is not a bad thing. Notice the Cougar's won loss record...

I actually was encouraged by some aspects of the game. Any Utah fan who has...

A story about Mormons as minorities? In this paper? Get over the "victim"...

she was an awesome woman someone i looked up to when i was younger she was...

Relieved Cougs prep for Falcons

Wow you just made one of the dumbest comments I've heard yet. Fire Bronco????...

Photos: A Royal welcome home

Re: Huh?, You like many other haters are probably oblivious to many obvious...

Advertisements
Advertisement