Author: Erin Thomas, Dixon Resources Unlimited

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Communities rely on thriving commercial cores to sustain vibrant downtowns. These areas serve as hubs for community engagement and help create a rich and distinctive local culture. Beyond their social value, commercial cores are vital to local economies, supporting small businesses, generating employment, and attracting visitors who help keep the city active and well-maintained.

However, when downtown areas lack adequate parking, their economic vitality can suffer. Residents and visitors may begin to dread trips into town, avoiding local businesses to escape the frustration of searching for parking. This reduced visitation directly impacts small businesses’ economic vitality. Additionally, a lack of available parking can disincentivize individuals from working downtown, directly affecting workforce recruitment and retention.  Ultimately, parking accessibility strongly influences whether people choose to spend time and money in a commercial district.

Another key challenge is insufficient parking turnover. When vehicles occupy prime storefront spaces all day, they prevent new customers from accessing those businesses, which directly limits sales opportunities. Cities benefit from actively managing their most desirable parking spaces to encourage regular turnover and ensure availability for short-term customers.

To increase turnover, cities can differentiate between customer and employee parking. Employees can be directed to designated long-term lots located just outside the core business area, while premium storefront spaces are reserved for visitors making shorter stops. This system not only makes parking more convenient for customers but also helps businesses attract foot traffic. Additionally, some cities use employee parking permit programs to manage where employees park, ensuring that staff have reliable parking options while keeping storefront spaces available for customers. Other cities promote alternative transportation options such as employee shuttle services or rideshare incentives to encourage workers to leave their cars at home and reduce parking demand.

Encouraging turnover can also involve pricing strategies and incentives. For example, cities can charge higher rates for the most convenient spaces while offering discounted long-term rates in peripheral lots or parking facilities. Time limits for prime parking areas can further reinforce the goal of keeping space available for new shoppers throughout the day.

For these measures to work, consistent enforcement is essential. Without enforcement, compliance declines, turnover decreases, and downtown activity slows. Effective enforcement ensures that storefront spaces remain available for shoppers, and that commercial areas remain safe, accessible, and welcoming to all.

Ultimately, parking plays a crucial role in the economic health and vitality of a city’s commercial core. When residents, employees, and visitors can easily find accessible parking, downtown districts thrive because when parking works, business works. Available parking means more receipts!

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