I am a downtown business owner, a therapist who sees many clients experiencing anxiety. Several clients experience anxiety about coming downtown for an appointment with me, because they are worried about being unable to find a parking space.
A recent Herald article mentioned converting the spaces to paid parking (“Study recommends Everett used paid parking downtown,” The Herald, March 5). The type of metering and the length of time that a person would be able to park wasn’t specified. Because of the numbers of people needing to park downtown, I doubt that this would make it easier for my clients, or anyone, to find a space.
One of the goals of modifying the parking situation should be to make it easier for people to come downtown, not only to do business and attend appointments, but to go to restaurants, shop and stroll around without having to constantly be looking at their watch so that they can run back to their car and either move to a different space or pay for additional time.
I simply don’t see how the problem can be solved without building additional parking garages. I pay to park at Everpark Garage. The garage often gets full, creating a situation where only monthly parkers can enter. I am guessing that there is always a waiting list for people who want to pay for monthly parking. I don’t like parking garages; they are usually unattractive buildings. I would prefer that there would be more parks and open spaces. I don’t know where new parking garages could be located. But I simply don’t see how the problem can be solved without new garages as part of the solution.
Kathi Jackson
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
