The London city council has voted in favor of reinstating a free parking promotion in the city’s core area. This promotion will provide one-hour free on-street parking in the core area, as well as one-hour free parking in municipal lots No. 1 and 2 in Old East Village via the Honk Mobile App until the end of the year. The motion to approve this promotion was passed with an 11-3 vote, with the funding coming from an economic development reserve fund. This promotion was originally implemented as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to support businesses and has been extended due to ongoing economic impacts.
Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira, whose ward includes the downtown area, sees this promotion as a way to support local businesses in the core area and contribute to downtown revitalization. He believes that this promotion will provide a competitive advantage for local businesses and hopes that an agreement can be reached to avoid the need for future extensions. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis also supports the promotion, stating that it gives local BIAs and businesses more support during these challenging times. However, Ward 4 Coun. Susan Stevenson raised concerns about maintaining cleanliness and safety in the OEV lots, and she plans to address these issues by setting clear standards for municipal lots.
Despite the majority of council members supporting the return of the free parking promotion, Ward 6 Coun. Sam Trosow expressed concerns about the potential for continual extensions. He worries that once people come to expect this promotion, it will be difficult to change it in the future. In addition to Trosow, Ward 11 Coun. Skylar Franke and Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman voted against the promotion’s return. However, all other council members were in favor of reinstating the promotion. The promotion is seen as a way to provide support to local businesses and contribute to the economic development of the city’s core area.
The implementation of the promotion is estimated to cost $300,000 for on-street parking and $30,000 for municipal lots. The initial motion was brought to the community and protective services committee, where it failed in a 2-2 vote. However, an amendment was added during the council meeting to reinstate the promotion. The municipality already has standards set for both winter and summer maintenance in municipal lots, according to city staff. The promotion is intended to support businesses and provide a competitive advantage for local shops in the core area. It is viewed as a way to assist with downtown revitalization and economic development in the city.
Overall, the free parking promotion in London’s core area has been approved by the city council and will be in place until the end of the year. While some council members have voiced concerns about potential extensions and maintaining cleanliness in municipal lots, the majority of members see this promotion as a way to support local businesses and contribute to the economic development of the city’s core area. The funding for the promotion will come from an economic development reserve fund, and the promotion was originally implemented as a response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing free parking in the core area, the city aims to boost local businesses and drive downtown revitalization efforts.
