As if recent construction projects have not sufficiently deterred Toledo area residents from frequenting downtown restaurants and attractions, paying to park at lunchtime just might be what the city needs to keep people out for good.
Free parking between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. has benefited both restaurants and lunch goers for years, attracting more people to businesses downtown, and rewarding their support for local establishments with free parking.
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Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz wants to start collecting revenue from downtown parking meters during those prime lunch hours. He wants to use it for construction and beautification projects, including improving Levis Square, making Jefferson Avenue more friendly for cyclists, and enhancing traffic flow on Washington Avenue.
The projects would be beneficial, and the fee would be only a small burden to lunch goers. But Toledo remains a car-centric city, and as downtown Toledo remains crowded with orange barrels, people do not need another excuse to to go elsewhere for their lunches.
Construction on portions of the I-475 loop has made it a pain to drive into the downtown area for years. West Toledoans have been forced to take detours circumventing the projects spanning from Berdan Avenue to the Cherry Street and Detroit Avenue roundabout. Projects on Central Avenue are a hassle to Sylvania residents.
And that is to say nothing of the obstacles created by projects on Monroe Street, North Summit Street, and on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Superior Street, to name a few.
Between dodging these projects, not to mention potholes, it’s no wonder why some might choose to eat lunch at their desk rather than navigate through the streets of Toledo.
Even if construction and turning on the parking meters fail to discourage hungry Toledoans, those who make the trek to a local dining establishment could choose to walk or park elsewhere — finding a way around the fee altogether.
Does the city not make enough revenue from the other seven hours that the meters are on?
Mayor Kapszukiewicz’s proposed projects would eventually benefit the city of Toledo. But for now, the city needs to encourage the flow of loyal customers to downtown eateries, shops, and venues, as these customers have many other local dining spots and attractions to choose from.
The city has been making incredible progress in regards to attracting businesses and people downtown. Let’s not halt this progress with another reason for people to “do better” somewhere else.
First Published June 22, 2018, 9:21 p.m.
