Back in the day, Everett had parking meters downtown. They were taken out with the advent of malls, because not only were downtown merchants losing business, they were losing it to these shopping centers surrounded by free parking.
These days, downtown Everett is back on track, growing and evolving, with an interesting mix of businesses, shops, restaurants, art space, etc. But the retail shopping part, the area where the malls dominate, (often with stores that chose to desert America’s downtowns) is not so different than the day those original meters were plucked out.
The retail businesses that have done so much to help revitalize downtown Everett still need free parking in order to compete.
The City Council recently hired a consultant to study Everett’s downtown parking and prepare a management plan, including developing strategies to make it more difficult for workers to park in the nearly 2,000 free spaces lining downtown streets.
The city says that instead of paying to park in off-street garages and lots, hundreds of downtown office workers nab those spots, and then move their cars to different spots throughout the day to avoid a ticket for exceeding the time limit posted — anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours.
While abuse of the free parking is wrong, it’s not a good argument for meters.
In May, the city reported that during most weekdays, about 70 percent of downtown’s on-street parking is filled. Even with all the parking scofflaws, plenty of spaces are still empty. Perhaps the city could meet with businesses identified as employing repeat parking violators. Perhaps there could be an incentive for businesses that help supplement employee parking costs. Certainly a business that is concerned about having space for customers to park wouldn’t allow its own employees to take up such spots.
Parking meters may help cut down on Everett’s illegal parkers, but it would punish businesses and would-be shoppers more. Everett is still working toward hitting that critical mass where meters would be warranted.
Meanwhile, parking citations last year generated more than $200,000 for the city’s general fund. Parking may be free, and some may take advantage of it, but that doesn’t mean “everybody gets away with it,” or that enforcement doesn’t generate money.
Free parking is one of downtown Everett’s many amenities, which the city and businesses can use to promote the advantages of shopping and dining here.
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