Parking Downtown is poised for a paradigm shift.
The Downtown Investment Authority, which assumed oversight of the Office of Public Parking as part of the recent reorganization of city government, is developing a plan to work with the urban core’s private parking providers for the benefit of parking suppliers and users.
CEO Aundra Wallace said Wednesday at the DIA’s first parking workshop the authority will “find a solution that works for the private sector and the city” with a focus on economic development.
“And we’ll make sure the private sector leads the effort,” he said.
Chief of Public Parking Bob Carle reported the city operates about 4,800 parking spaces Downtown, including metered spaces, surface lots and garages.
“But the city controls less than 25 percent of the parking,” said Wallace.
He said there’s a perception there is not enough parking Downtown. The reality is there’s no shortage, it’s about where the spaces are.
“There’s plenty of parking in certain areas Downtown,” Wallace said. “In other areas, there’s little or no parking.”
Authority board member Oliver Barakat, senior vice president at the CBRE commercial real estate firm, said even with thousands of spaces available at privately owned parking garages and lots, the assets are underutilized.
“The missing link is connecting the supply with the demand,” he said.
On the economic angle, Barakat said the authority should work toward providing a “one-stop shop” to the business and real estate communities.
The idea is to make it clear how many spaces would be available for a potential tenant and where the spaces are in relation to the lease location.
He said there are “an unprecedented number” of large companies — eight to 10 — considering Jacksonville for expansion or relocation.
“Moving 1,000 people is complicated enough. Our ability to make parking less complex can attract and retain tenants,” Barakat said.
Wallace said Jacksonville’s commercial real estate market is shifting.
“Office space is drying up in the suburbs, making Downtown more attractive,” he said.
The authority also will study the operations side of the city parking department.
Carle said his staff maintains the parking meters, surface lots and garages, and enforces the parking laws, including issuing citations and appearing in traffic court.
In fiscal year 2014-15, the most recent year complete data is available, the office wrote about 40,000 parking citations that led to $1.2 million in fines.
About 1,100 vehicles were immobilized due to unpaid citations by placing a boot on the tire, resulting in $46,000 worth of delinquent citations paid before the boot was removed.
More than 250 vehicles were towed for parking on the right-of-way.
Regarding allocation of funds collected through fines, Carle said 30 percent of each fine goes to the Police and Fire Pension Fund, with the remainder used to fund the parking office.
Wallace said the authority will evaluate parking on the Southbank and in Brooklyn, areas that are growing and areas in which “parking is a huge discussion.”
The next meeting will be May 24, when there will be a review of public parking legislation and the city’s rate structures for daily, month-to-month and long-term lease parking, Wallace said.
@DRMaxDowntown
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