Crazy new parking rates

[Lollyblogger]

At a time of vacant storefronts and struggling businesses, at a time like this Chestnut Hill ups its parking rates - turns free parking lots into paid and significantly hikes meter rates.
What are you thinking?

[Hospitalitygirl]

You need to clarify a couple of things.

"Turning free parking lots into paid"--who did this and where exactly?

"Significantly hikes meter rates"--again who did this? The 'borough' of Chestnut Hill (FYI, none exists) or the Philadelphia Parking Authority? And if it's the PPA and they don't see the revenues they predict, as they've done in much of Center City and South Street, they will probably lower rates.

[davidcl]

I agree with Lollyblogger, for what it's worth.

The free lots that were converted into paid lots are the ones maintained by the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation:

Parking

For years, these lots have been maintained by contributions from local merchants, but a couple of months ago they were switched to a kiosk system administered by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. I think this was a shortsighted decision by the Parking Foundation. From what I've seen, this has led to more parking congestion on residential streets while the huge commercial lots are never full. Probably not what CH community members were hoping for...

[Hospitalitygirl]

I agree with Lollyblogger, for what it's worth.

The free lots that were converted into paid lots are the ones maintained by the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation:

Parking

For years, these lots have been maintained by contributions from local merchants, but a couple of months ago they were switched to a kiosk system administered by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. I think this was a shortsighted decision by the Parking Foundation. From what I've seen, this has led to more parking congestion on residential streets while the huge commercial lots are never full. Probably not what CH community members were hoping for...

Well at least that's a bit of a clarification.

[Mt. Airy Brewer]

I agree with Lollyblogger, for what it's worth.

The free lots that were converted into paid lots are the ones maintained by the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation:

Parking

For years, these lots have been maintained by contributions from local merchants, but a couple of months ago they were switched to a kiosk system administered by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. I think this was a shortsighted decision by the Parking Foundation. From what I've seen, this has led to more parking congestion on residential streets while the huge commercial lots are never full. Probably not what CH community members were hoping for...

The lots were changed from free because the businesses didn't want to pay for them anymore. Seems kind of dumb to me. Plenty of side streets to park on.

[toxigal]

At a time of vacant storefronts and struggling businesses, at a time like this Chestnut Hill ups its parking rates - turns free parking lots into paid and significantly hikes meter rates.
What are you thinking?

how much do the lots cost now?

[enyo]

how much do the lots cost now?

Its quarter for every 15 mins and a flat fee of 5$ at night.

Does this mean we're going to have PPA walking around ticketing?

[toxigal]

Its quarter for every 15 mins and a flat fee of 5$ at night.

Does this mean we're going to have PPA walking around ticketing?

well, that's more expensive than free, but i'm not sure i'd consider those "crazy rates".

[seand]

It is cheaper than most Center City PPA rates right? Aren't they $3 an hour or .75 for 15 minutes?

[greggscott]

I'm okay with it, and will gladly pay the .25...As a businessperson, I understand why the stores couldn't afford to foot the bill any longer, and why the Parking Foundation made the decision. As a consumer, I am glad to do my share. Everyone wants to go Heaven....sadly, no one wants to die.

[funk]

like it or not, there's a "1", not a "0" after the first "19" in your zip code. welcome to philadelphia.

[Worm]

with the new kiosks, it's easy to jack up the rates. They can probably even do it remotely.

[tintin19119]

I'm okay with it, and will gladly pay the .25...As a businessperson, I understand why the stores couldn't afford to foot the bill any longer, and why the Parking Foundation made the decision. As a consumer, I am glad to do my share. Everyone wants to go Heaven....sadly, no one wants to die.

LOL,that how it starts. Watch how fast it keeps going up. About 3yrs ago, the city started charging 150 dollars a year for trash pick up,if you own a triplex.This is on top of taxes ,license fees and so on.The very next year it double to 300. God only knows what the fee is now.

[seand]

LOL,that how it starts. Watch how fast it keeps going up. About 3yrs ago, the city started charging 150 dollars a year for trash pick up,if you own a triplex.This is on top of taxes ,license fees and so on.The very next year it double to 300. God only knows what the fee is now.

Except a using a parking lot is not a basic city service, nor is paying for parking while you are parked there a tax in that you could easily park somewhere else or not drive at all and avoid the fee entirely.

I understand where you are going but basically business owners were paying a volluntary "tax" to give potential customers free parking and then opted to charge a rate much lower than PPA charges downtown to let the lot pay for itself. The current situation is the "small government" option, actually.

[tintin19119]

Except a using a parking lot is not a basic city service, nor is paying for parking while you are parked there a tax in that you could easily park somewhere else or not drive at all and avoid the fee entirely.

I understand where you are going but basically business owners were paying a volluntary "tax" to give potential customers free parking and then opted to charge a rate much lower than PPA charges downtown to let the lot pay for itself. The current situation is the "small government" option, actually.

I see what you are saying. I hope the business owners thought this out. A ten minute ride,you can park for free at the mall and four shopping strips.Each time someone gets a ticket,that is a customer that will not be coming back.

[tintin19119]

Except a using a parking lot is not a basic city service, nor is paying for parking while you are parked there a tax in that you could easily park somewhere else or not drive at all and avoid the fee entirely.

I understand where you are going but basically business owners were paying a volluntary "tax" to give potential customers free parking and then opted to charge a rate much lower than PPA charges downtown to let the lot pay for itself. The current situation is the "small government" option, actually.

I see what you are saying. I hope the business owners thought this out. A ten minute ride,you can park for free at the mall and four shopping strips.Each time someone gets a ticket,that is a customer that will not be coming back.

[borntochill]

I can't see $1/hour breaking the back of anybody patronizing the type of businesses operating along Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill. If they hike kiosk rates, or PPD issues inaccurate tickets then, yeah there may be blowback.