A change in parking enforcement that was intended to stimulate business in Duluth's Lincoln Park may have the opposite effect. That's the fear shared by several business owners who just learned of plans to remove parking meters from three blocks of West Superior Street, between 19th and 22nd Avenues West.
"It's going to have a real negative effect on our business," predicted Richard Turcott, who owns and operates Second Look Books, 1925 W. Superior St., with his wife, Pennie.
Turcott explained that parking meters discourage long- term parking in Lincoln Park's business district, ensuring churn and making it easier for customers to find a convenient spot. Without meters in place, he anticipates much of the parking near his shop will be tied up for long periods of time by bar patrons, people who work in the area and residents who lack sufficient off-street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
City Councilor Kerry Gauthier, who proposed removing meters from the area, said he understands some of the concerns, but he suspects there will be fewer problems than some critics forewarn.
"Most of the business from bar patrons occurs after hours," he said.
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"The business people I talked to generally were for this, so people could take their time shopping," Gauthier said. He said making it easier to park on the street also would lead to fewer issues with people parking in front of loading docks and other inappropriate places in the neighborhood.
"I think people should give this a try and see how it goes," he said.
If removing the meters produces more problems than benefits, Gauthier said the council can always decide to reinstall the machines.
John Carr, owner of Carr's Hobby, 2009 W. Superior St., said he doesn't like the idea of city funds first being used to remove the meters and then to reinstall them. He favors the status quo.
"Occasionally I have people who will grouse about the meters. But having meters creates the kind of quick turnover that keeps on-the-street parking available," he said.
Jerry LeFaive, owner of P&J Paint, 1924 W. Superior St., said he's steamed that businesses in the blocks to be directly affected by the change were not notified until after the council already had approved a resolution to remove parking meters.
"It doesn't make any sense," he said. "They didn't even ask us our opinion, and they're eliminating a source of revenue for the city."
Todd Fedora was the only city councilor to vote against meter removal Dec. 20, when the resolution passed 8-1. He said the city stands to lose $18,000 in revenue at a time when its finances are strained.
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Fedora said he was influenced by the recommendation of the Duluth Parking Commission that meters be retained in the area to discourage long-term parking. While a two-hour limit will be placed on parking in the area, Fedora said he doubts the city has sufficient staff to consistently chalk tires and enforce those rules.
Steve Gonan, a senior engineering specialist for the city, visited property owners in Lincoln Park's business district last week to inform them of the recent council action and found most people were unaware of the pending change.
"The vast majority of people are dead set against removing the meters," he said. "I think the council probably will be asked to take another look at this. But if they don't, we'll move ahead with the removal."
Fedora advises people who want to keep Lincoln Park meters in place to share their concerns with the eight councilors who voted in favor of removal. For the council to reconsider the matter, one of the measure's original supporters would need to have a change of heart.
"I think we can still get this changed," LeFaive said. "Parking's hard enough already."
