A staff report is recommending the return of free on-street parking in the core area of London. The report suggests implementing a free 1-hour on-street parking program for the core area, as well as a free 1-hour parking pilot program for two lots in Old East Village. The cost of both programs is estimated to be $330,000, to be funded from the Economic Development Reserve Fund. The original promotion was introduced as a temporary measure to support businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing construction. The city extended the promotion last summer due to continued economic impacts on businesses.
Barb Maly, executive director of Downtown London, believes that the return of free parking is a step towards downtown’s recovery. She emphasizes that downtown small businesses have been hit hardest by the effects of COVID-19 and require additional support. While she supports the promotion’s return, Maly also wants to ensure that the program will be used to develop parking plans in the core area. Kevin Morrison, the general manager of the OEV BIA, questions the proposed costs in the report and suggests that offering at least one hour of free parking can help attract more customers to local businesses.
Core businesses in London are facing various challenges, including vandalism and ongoing construction. Robin Pero, owner of the horticulture shop Grow and Bloom Co, hopes that the free parking program will encourage more foot traffic to her store. She expresses concerns about the program’s effectiveness if it is not adequately marketed to the public. Similarly, Kayla Gibbens, owner of Über Cool Stuff, points out that many entrances to downtown are either blocked or bottlenecked due to construction projects. She believes that any incentive to bring more people to the area would be beneficial for local businesses.
Overall, the goal of the free parking promotion is to support businesses in the core area of London as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic and construction. The staff report will be presented to the Community and Protective Services Committee for consideration. The report acknowledges that parking demand in the core area is closely tied to economic activity and other indicators. By offering free parking, the city aims to make the core area a vibrant and accessible destination for all residents of London. The success of the program will be monitored through data collection and by reviewing best practices from other municipalities.
