A financial review of two municipal parking lots in the Old East Village (OEV) has prompted an unexpected recommendation from city staff to offer free parking for a year-and-a-half trial period. The collection of stakeholder feedback regarding the potential redevelopment of Parking Lot #1 (641 Queens Ave.) and Parking Lot #2 (434 Elizabeth St.} has resulted in a staff report recommending no further action pursuing a housing development, and instead a free parking pilot project. The report to Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC) states that the stakeholders, “requested the retention of both properties as a municipal parking resource in an effort to support the commercial district’s ongoing economic recovery.” “We’re not saying never, but we’re saying certainly not now,” says Kevin Morrison, executive director of the OEV Business Improvement Area (BIA). However, Morrision supports free parking in the underutilized lots behind businesses on the north side of Dundas Street. “We are continually bringing in new businesses and some of the small businesses that are located here now are expanding, it’s certainly going to be a great benefit to get people down here,” he explains. In addition, the five parking meters that accept payment and print parking slips for the two lots are scheduled for replacement this fall at a total cost of $75,000. Frequently damaged and vandalized, the staff report estimates monthly repairs at about $1,000. Those costs are barely offset by the $124,729 raised in parking fees each year. “These lots represent approximately 6 per cent of city-wide parking revenue. At the same time, the lots face ongoing costs for vandalism related equipment repair,” the report read. City staff suggests the free parking pilot project run until March 31, 2027 for the following reasons: Business Support- While perspectives differ on whether free parking is the best economic driver, the pilot responds directly to these requests by reducing a barrier for patrons who already rely on cars. After discovering the display screen on a parking meter intentionally melted, Shawn Bawden welcomed the idea of free parking, “Parking fees are a big deterrent to going anywhere. I think free parking is important for building businesses and maintaining businesses.” Meanwhile, at Granny P’s superfoods production site, Gonzalo Gomez-Daza like the idea of free parking behind his Dundas Street location, but warns the lot must also become more welcoming if it is going to attract people to OEV. “It might attract more traffic into the area, however, there has to also be a bit of responsibility on the city for cleaning up to make sure that people are willing to park here,” he explained. Morrision doesn’t think the pilot project would prompt similar requests for the city’s other BIAs, because there is widespread acknowledgement of the homelessness crisis in and around the lots. “I’m not saying that other BIAs don’t have those struggles, but they don’t have the struggles that we have when it comes to the street crisis that we’re dealing with every day,” he adds. The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee will consider the staff recommendations on Oct. 7.
