In an ambitious move to enhance the allure of downtown Raleigh for visitors and support local businesses, city leaders have approved a pilot program that offers free two-hour parking in five city-owned garages; the initiative is slated to start from mid-November, reports CBS17. Ordinarily, parking in these facilities has been gratis post-7 p.m. on weekdays and throughout weekends, but with the new program, parking during prime daytime hours will also become complimentary.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance, under the leadership of President and CEO Bill King, played a crucial role in setting this program in motion “What we really wanted was a way to level the playing field with some of the other shopping and dining areas in the city, make it easier to come, get back downtown, and try it out,” King explained the motivation in a CBS17 interview, highlighting the ease this could bring to weeknight dinners downtown.
In light of a recovering but still notable 14% downtown office vacancy rate, which fares better than the national average, the city is also pushing to revitalize its core by attracting new entertainment venues and encouraging businesses to fill office spaces, as reported by WRAL News; furthermore, this strategy includes adding an allure to the ground level of buildings by introducing new shops and restaurants which in turn, could boost above office space desirability, according to ongoing dialogues with King.
Anticipation is stirring among local business owners such as Pam Blondin, who recognizes the holiday season could be impacted crucially by the turnout influenced by parking availability, Blondin told ABC11, "If there is something that's keeping people from coming down, that doesn't just mess up our December, it messes up the entire next year;" a concern reflecting the broader sentiment among retailers and restaurateurs yearning for an increase in downtown foot traffic and patronage.
The pilot program is set to initiate on November 15 and includes the Moore Square garage, among others, all strategically located to spur activity in the downtown area and is part of the city’s larger Downtown Economic Development Strategy, highlighting an immediate implementation of the city’s broader rejuvenation plans as detailed by King in his statements to the media.
