Comments on: Who pays for your ‘free’ parking and when? Junction changes to go before City Council committee

By: DukeMalisto

DukeMalisto — Fri, 23 May 2014 22:00:49 +0000

With all of this new development in super dense housing without accommodations for tenant parking (because we know everyone can live at 1400+/mo rent with just day jobs at boutiques and restaurant wages) why not use one of these big lots for a multi-story parking garage? Local tenants can pay for parking passes for one of the floors, everyone else can park wherever at a reasonable (capped) parking rate.

By: Mickymse

Mickymse — Fri, 23 May 2014 16:41:06 +0000

This makes me chuckle because of people who says things like “I never drive Downtown to shop when I can shop here a park for free” or “I’ll just go to Southcenter Mall where there’s plenty of free parking.” Here’s a good clear example of how all your “free parking” gets paid for…

By: let them swim

let them swim — Fri, 23 May 2014 11:16:49 +0000

@ cjboffoli, Ever hear of Joe Diamond?

By: Don Brubeck

Don Brubeck — Fri, 23 May 2014 05:27:04 +0000

The “free” parking is not free. It is paid for by all customers of the businesses. The businesses build it into their overhead costs, so it is included in the price of everything they sell. What that means is that everyone who walks or bikes or takes a bus to the businesses is paying for something they don’t use. They are subsidizing those who drive and park for free.

There is a huge amount of public and private real estate devoted to car parking in our shopping areas, which all of us are paying for with taxes and in the prices we pay for goods and services. you can see it easily using Google Earth or maps.

Customers who come on foot don’t need extra real estate for parking. 12 customers on bikes can park in the space as one customer in a car. Encouraging bike and foot traffic will save us all money and encourage local shopping, dining and business.

By: wetone

wetone — Fri, 23 May 2014 04:37:56 +0000

Could not agree more with the last couple statements. We and many friends have been going out to W/C & Burien lately great food easy parking good pricing. Be interesting over the next few years to see how the junction does as parking and traffic gets worse and rents go up. Will the foot traffic be enough to make payroll ? time will tell.

By: oddturn

oddturn — Fri, 23 May 2014 00:57:22 +0000

I have found Columbia City more pleasant to shop at these days. Even though it’s a hop over Beacon Hill, it has the vibe I prefer. Except for Lee’s Asian and the french bakery, I haven’t shopped in the Junction for months. Funky and creative shops and much more diverse ethnically in Columbia City. And I go there knowing there isn’t free parking. I just don’t dig the chaotic vibe in the Junction with all of the construction. Glad all the new non-car people are there to support the better businesses through all this. I hate it.

By: ScubaFrog

ScubaFrog — Fri, 23 May 2014 00:02:46 +0000

It’s unfortunate that businesses aren’t required to provide parking based on their square footage. Residents too, private – and commercial.
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It’s sad to see the city council come up with so many new constraints and regulations for private citizens, while essentially letting businesses and developers to build without many restrictions in height and parking occupancy.

By: The Real CW

The Real CW — Thu, 22 May 2014 23:24:48 +0000

Thanks Mike. Sooner or later the city will take the lots like they did with 103 year old Myrtle Woldson, and they will charge $10/hour with all proceeds going to bike lanes and Metro services.

I give it two years max to the end of free parking in the Junction.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2013/10/18/city-looking-like-darth-vader-in.html

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 22 May 2014 22:03:45 +0000

Also, while I’m ramping up for an outburst here, I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t really have my finger on the pulse of the public transportation in Seattle. I was kind of under the assumption that when Seattle said “hey we are going to encourage development by taking away the parking requirements – so start building whatever you want and don’t worry about putting any of those expensive parking garages under whatever you put up!” that they had some kind of plan to get everyone on busses, but I guess there is a major shortfall with metro funding too?
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I’m glad I don’t work downtown, it’s going to be getting just more insane getting from here to there, especially if they can ever fire up that tunnel beast again.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 22 May 2014 21:51:37 +0000

When we were in the junction (1.5 year ago or so) it was based on sqft of the building I believe and we had a lot of footage to pay for. And though we had no retail or visitors, we paid. There was no choice in the matter, so I’m pretty sure that list of non-paying merchants no longer exists.
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It would be a shame if these free lots were shut down because of all the apartments and junk going up that are already mucking with the culture of our small retail establishments. In fact, it would be nice if all these developments would be required to pay for all of these fees for the next 10+ years or so as a “thank you for letting us have our way with your nice little community.”

By: miws

miws — Thu, 22 May 2014 19:49:25 +0000

Real CW. the lots are owned by Junction Trusteed Properties.

Mike

By: WSB

WSB — Thu, 22 May 2014 19:38:18 +0000

In reply to skeeter. Skeeter, I don't know if it's gross or net. Income to me means money coming in, as does revenue.

By: skeeter

skeeter — Thu, 22 May 2014 19:35:34 +0000

“The assessment is formulated based on income, Melrose explains, so companies without much revenue won’t be paying much”

Now I’m confused. Is the assessment based on income? Or is the assessment based on revenue? Because the two are very, very different. Revenue is gross sales. Income is gross sales less cost of goods sold and operating overhead.

That confusion aside, this is a very interesting conversation. Thank you for reporting this WSB.

By: trickycoolj

trickycoolj — Thu, 22 May 2014 19:03:37 +0000

I certainly hope that the Junction businesses are able to keep the free parking alive for the foreseeable future. I know it definitely encourages me to come shop at their unique stores rather than go to Target or Southcenter… that is when I can actually get there before they all close at 6:00 which isn’t really possible on weeknights if you get off work in the 5:00 hour. But that’s a different gripe for a different day.

By: ACG

ACG — Thu, 22 May 2014 18:42:02 +0000

Thanks all!! I guess I was under the impression that the Jefferson Square garage (and the QFC garage, for that matter) was only parking for the people patronizing the specific businesses in that development. I didn’t know you could park there while you shopped at any junction business.