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January 4, 2009

Investments by city and county haven't solved parking problem

City, county attempts haven't solved parking problems

By KATELYN MOCKRY

PLATTSBURGH — Despite recent investments by the city and county, parking in downtown Plattsburgh is still an issue for some residents and employees.

"Every mayor has struggled with this problem," said City of Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak.

Kasprzak said the Center City and downtown areas get the most complaints about parking.

Josh Facteau, who lives above Maggie's Restaurant on Margaret Street, said finding a spot by his apartment is often difficult.

"Some people take up two spots, which is even more frustrating when I'm trying to find a place to park," he said.

construction
Over the past few years, the city and county have heavily invested in the construction of parking lots in and around downtown, aiming to alleviate parking issues.

In 2004, construction was completed on a parking lot on the corner of Cornelia and Oak streets.

"The lot was built because we kind of had a three-step problem," said County Legislator Robert Heins (R-Ward 10).

"County employees would park in the government center lot. Then visitors and jurors had to park on the street. Downtown business owners then had a problem because there weren't places for their clients to park."

The lot has been functional for parking in that part of the city, Heins said, as long as county employees utilize it.

"I don't hear from merchants that parking is as big of an issue there as it used to be."

Lack of Spaces
Farther downtown, however, parking is still an issue for some.

Cathy Zarbo, an employee and vendor at the Antique and Variety Mall on Margaret Street, said the two-hour parking limit makes it difficult to find a place to park when she is working.

"It's hard to have to go out every two hours to move your car."

The lack of spaces in front of the store during business hours poses another challenge for parking.

"I try to park in back of the store because I don't want to take spaces from customers since parking is so limited," she said.

PARKING GARAGE
In 2007, the Gateway at Plattsburgh development's Durkee Street parking garage was completed.

The garage was built in hopes of solving parking issues in that area of downtown Plattsburgh.

The garage, however, has seen minimal use over the past year.

Christine Rotella, manager of the Gateway at Plattsburgh, said the top level of the garage, which is open to the public for two-hour parking, is under-utilized.

"We've found that interesting because people complained about the parking down there," she said.

SNOWY CONDITIONS
LivingGoods Restaurant owner Matt Ray said parking isn't an issue for him after 5 p.m. unless there's been a snowstorm.

"The problem I've seen is how long it takes the city to remove snow "¦ it piles up on the curb and sidewalks," he said.

"It does affect my business when there's a heavy snow and people can't park."

When there's a parking ban downtown due to a snowstorm, Facteau and Pat Pasal, a recent Plattsburgh State grad who lives on City Hall Place, have to park in the Durkee Street parking lot.

"It can be a good hike over there "¦ it's definitely the hardest to park during the winter," Facteau said.

Half of the lot is closed during a parking ban so it can be plowed.

"You never know which side's going to be closed, so it's frustrating if you have to move your car, and everyone that was parked in the lot has to somehow park on just half of it "¦ people just cram their cars in there," Pasal said.

PARKING METERS
Ray suggested that parking meters may be a good idea to help with the parking issues.

"It could be a way to raise revenue for the city," he said.

Kasprzak said meters are not an option at this point and would be a very costly project.

"There's a debate that it would possibly hurt downtown businesses, which is the last thing we want to do," the mayor said.

"Paying for the meters themselves, the reconstruction of the sidewalks to put the meters and the time and effort to monitor them wouldn't be anywhere near the revenue we could get."

Hiring someone to monitor parking meters is not in the budget, especially since the city's parking-enforcement officer position may soon be cut.

The City of Plattsburgh Common Council will be voting this week to pass a budget that would eliminate that position.

Kasprzak said if the position is cut, the regular patrol officers will be monitoring the parking issues.

"If there are any questions or concerns about parking problems, the public and business owners can call the Police Department directly."

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