CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Metropolis Council is slated to vote on a proposed parking plan subsequent week that will look to retool restricted area in Over-the-Rhine.
The present proposed plan appears so as to add flex parking, which is residential parking areas the place guests can park throughout sure hours, in addition to transfer sure residential allow zones and add paid parking across the space.
“There’s a parking plan being proposed by the town to have a paid parking district north of Liberty [Street],” mentioned Kevin Hassey, OTR Neighborhood Council president. “It is form of a zero sum sport.”
Hassey mentioned he opposes the plan and sees it as “misplaced and inappropriate” in the meanwhile.
“It appears applicable to fill [Findlay] Storage with guests earlier than anybody begins to consider on road parking that’s presently utilized by residents,” he mentioned.
Hassey is referring to the $31 million parking storage that opened in December 2023.
End up circling OTR looking for parking? Effectively, excellent news! At present was the ribbon chopping for the brand new Findlay Storage- it has greater than 500 parking spots. It’ll be open to the general public beginning tomorrow @WCPO pic.twitter.com/sGQwpA3vZT
— Taylor Nimmo (@tnimms) December 12, 2023
Situated off Central Parkway between Logan and Elder Streets, the 515-parking area construction is six ranges tall and gives 15,000 sq. ft of retail area on its floor degree.
“The taxpayer spent $30 million constructing [the garage],” Hassey mentioned. “That must be the primary space of emphasis: how will we fill the storage?”
The $31 million storage was paid for via surplus parking income and a $2 million state capitol grant awarded by the Ohio Services Development Fee.
The Metropolis of Cincinnati’s Division of Neighborhood and Financial Improvement (DCED) introduced its ultimate plan to handle parking to the Over-the-Rhine group on Aug. 26.
“So plenty of it was arising with all these competing wants, and the way will we give you a plan that finest balances all of those competing wants,” mentioned Dan Bower, deputy DCED director, on the time. “Whereas offering these restricted areas are used as a lot as potential by these completely different stakeholder teams.”
A current research accomplished by parking marketing consultant group Desman seemed into establishing an employee-focused allow program for the Findlay Market space. The research concluded that the town averted an worker parking program, saying it might be “counterproductive.”
Nevertheless, the town mentioned that doesn’t imply it’s the top of the dialog. The plan now heads to the total metropolis council for a vote on Sept. 24.
Bower mentioned they hope to make the required modifications to signage earlier than winter.
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