Ottawa implements paid on-street parking in Westboro, Wellington West

The meter has run out on free parking in two Ottawa business districts, as the city installs parking meters on busy streets. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

The meter has run out on free parking to visit shops, businesses and restaurants in Westboro and Wellington West, as the city implements paid on-street parking in the popular area.

The City of Ottawa says paid parking goes into effect on Sept. 2 at on-street parking spots in the Churchill, Wellington West, Hintonburg, Richmond West and Richmond East areas.

“There’s a lot of mixed feelings within our business community. It is one of the biggest changes for our businesses in years,” Judy Lincoln, executive director of the Westboro Village BIA, told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal.

“It has been 20 years since the city has brought paid parking into any business district.”

According to the city, there are 697 parking spots that will now have paid parking.

City staff say the introduction of paid parking in the Westboro and Wellington West areas comes after data showed “very high parking demand” at peak times.

“By adding paid parking in areas where demand is greatest, the City aims to better manage the limited curbside spaces and improve turnover so more people can find parking when they need it,” staff said on the City of Ottawa’s website.

Lincoln says the Westboro Village BIA will be monitoring the parking data to see if paid parking is encouraging vehicle turnover or is driving business out of the area.

“We’re going to be monitoring the impacts for our business members, both with the city data, visitor data and surveying all of our business members,” Lincoln said.

Parking rates will be set at $3 an hour, according to the city.\

Businesses have mixed reactions to the new parking meters.

“When you first get down here and you see the pay machines, it’s like, uh-oh,” Jessica Oliver owner of Must Boutique, said Tuesday afternoon.

“For sure I’m concerned. I’m also appreciating that it might keep cars moving so that it might be easier for my customers to get down here to come shop with us.”

“My understanding it’s $6 for two hours. Doesn’t seem too unreasonable for paid parking,” Steve Hunter of Sole Freedom said.

“And can give people peace of mind of an extra half an hour where they can enjoy a meal without feeling rushed and check out a shop or two before having to get back to their car.”

Paid parking will be implemented in the following areas:

• Churchill: Churchill Avenue from Richmond Road to Scott Street
• Richmond West: Richmond Road from Broadview Avenue to Athlone Street; Danforth Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to Churchill Avenue; Churchill Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue from Richmond Road to Byron Avenue
• Richmond East: Richmond Road and immediately adjacent side streets between Athlone Avenue and Island Park Drive
• Wellington Village: All parking along Wellington Street West and the immediately adjacent streets between Island Park Drive and Parkdale Avenue.
• Hintonburg: All parking along Wellington Street West and adjacent side streets between Parkdale Avenue and Breezehill Avenue.

Motorists will be required to pay the meter Monday to Saturday until 5:30 p.m. in Churchill, Wellington Village and Hintonburg areas, Monday to Friday until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday in Richmond West, and Monday to Friday until 5:30 p.m. in Richmond East.

The debate over free parking in the Hintonburg, Wellington West and Westboro area has been going on for years. In 2017, councillors decided to keep parking free, despite studies showing a shortage of available parking spaces and a need to solve long-term parking needs.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dave Charbonneau