A staff report is recommending the return of free on-street parking in the core area of London. The report suggests implementing a free 1-hour on-street parking program in the core area and a free 1-hour parking pilot program in two lots in Old East Village. Both programs would run until the end of 2024 and have a combined cost of $330,000, which would be funded from the Economic Development Reserve Fund. The original promotion was introduced as a temporary measure to support businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing construction, and the city extended it last summer due to ongoing economic challenges.
Barb Maly, the executive director of Downtown London, sees the return of the free parking promotion as a positive step towards the downtown area’s recovery. Maly believes that the program will benefit members and merchants who are still struggling to recover from the effects of COVID-19. However, she emphasizes the importance of collecting data on the usage of free parking and reviewing best practices from other municipalities to inform future parking plans in the core area. Kevin Morrison, the general manager of the OEV BIA, questions the proposed costs of the program and suggests that offering at least one-hour of free parking could encourage more foot traffic and support businesses in the area.
Robin Pero, the owner of the horticulture shop Grow and Bloom Co, hopes that the free parking program will attract more customers and help businesses recover from the challenges of ongoing construction. However, she expresses concerns about the effectiveness of the program if it is not marketed effectively to the public. Similarly, Kayla Gibbens, the owner of Über Cool Stuff, highlights the difficulties faced by downtown businesses due to construction and road closures, and believes that incentives like free parking could help attract more visitors. The staff report will be presented to the Community and Protective Services Committee for consideration.
Overall, the proposed return of free on-street parking in the core area of London is aimed at supporting businesses and attracting more foot traffic to the downtown area. The programs are seen as a way to help businesses recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and ongoing construction. Stakeholders like Barb Maly, Kevin Morrison, Robin Pero, and Kayla Gibbens express varying levels of support and concern regarding the program, with a focus on the need for effective marketing, data collection, and cost considerations. The decision on whether to implement the free parking programs will be made by the Community and Protective Services Committee following the presentation of the staff report.
