Home Economy Many argue lack of downtown parking not the problem it once was

Many argue lack of downtown parking not the problem it once was

By

Claudia Chiappa

-

08/26/2022

ONE OF NUMEROUS surface parking lots in downtown Providence is located next to the Arcade and across from the Industrial Trust Co. Building on Westminister Street. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN

A longtime concern of visitors to downtown Providence – the lack of parking – has become a less-pressing issue as the city is still trying to reach pre-pandemic levels of activity and some companies continue to offer work-from-home options. Providence’s reputation for limited parking in the downtown area is nothing new, but the last two

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A longtime concern of visitors to downtown Providence – the lack of parking – has become a less-pressing issue as the city is still trying to reach pre-pandemic levels of activity and some companies continue to offer work-from-home options. Providence’s reputation for limited parking in the downtown area is nothing new, but the last two years have altered the landscape, say Providence officials and some property and business owners. On weekdays, parking lots that were filled with the cars of commuters now often have plenty of unoccupied spaces. “Pre-pandemic, it was more difficult to find a parking space,” said Leo Perrotta, director of Providence Public Works Department. “It is easier now.” Liza Farr, the city’s curbside administrator, says downtown Providence has 1,436 metered parking spaces and numerous privately owned garages and lots. Ideally, she says, 85% of those spaces would be occupied during a typical day. That rate would indicate that the district is economically healthy. While Farr says it is hard to determine the usage of the metered spaces, owners of parking garages track the numbers closely. Charles Meyers, president of Metropark Ltd., a company that operates eight parking facilities in Providence, says his lots are approximately 60% occupied these days, much lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. “There is no shortage of parking,” Meyers said. “There are plenty of lots or garages that have availability.” Meyers says people’s perception of lack of parking stems from a shortage of low-cost or free parking that is also convenient. Joseph R. Paolino Jr., a former mayor of Providence and managing partner of Paolino Properties LP, agrees. “There’s a lot of availability of parking in the city,” said Paolino, whose company owns numerous downtown buildings. “Parking in Rhode Island, when it comes to downtown, has always been a pet peeve that people have because people don’t want to pay for parking.” But for local businesses, the availability of surface parking is pivotal to their success. Chris Parisi, the founder of Trailblaze Inc., a marketing agency with offices on Westminster Street, says that while parking has become “easier to come by” compared with pre-pandemic times, finding spaces remains a struggle. In recent weeks, utility crews have been tearing up Westminster Street and detouring traffic. “Street parking is hard to come by, with construction making it even worse,” said Parisi, who is also president of the Rhode Island Small Business Coalition. “It makes clients hesitant to visit us.” Parking availability is a recurring contentious point when new development projects are unveiled. Most recently, the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission’s plan to advance with the construction of a $4 million food and beverage pavilion has sparked animated discussions among some who raised concerns over how the project would eat up precious parking spots. But city officials insist the growth Providence has been experiencing has happened alongside investments in alternative means of mobility, such as transit, ride-sharing and bike lanes. It ultimately comes down to whether visitors are willing to walk more than a few steps from their parking spot to their destination, Perrotta and Farr say. “If you need to park and walk to your location, you will be able to find a spot,” Perrotta said. “As neighborhoods are expanding, we’re offering alternatives.” As the downtown area continues to make a return to normalcy, city officials remain optimistic that parking won’t become a pressing issue. “I don’t think we were in any dire situation before the pandemic, so we are not concerned,” Farr said. Parisi says he hopes parking doesn’t fall off the city’s radar. “As the holiday shopping season comes along, I hope the city continues its effort to get folks to shop local here in downtown Providence by making it easy to find safe parking,” Parisi said.