It cost me four bucks to do a fifteen minute deal at the Courthouse last week.

I don't come downtown much, and when I do, I don't appreciate having to pay this kind of tariff. The pleasure of being downtown is just not worth all that much to me.

I think next to Re-Runs on Union is a 15 minute zone. Good thought on the meters. They take the guess work out of deciding how long people are there. They are also good because people probably will not run out every 15 minutes to push the button to stay in the spot all day.

I have to work downtown some, and one of the things I hear about are workers parking all day in short term parking meters, or even delivery zones. Some feed the meters and tie up the close spaces. You're right, with the big garage behind the square it is hard to complain too much. I think one dollar for 2 hours. I agree the garage is a pain and it takes a few extra minutes, but I park in the garage at West Town too. I spent some time in D.C. and some other cities and without question you are hiking and parking in garages and lots in most downtown areas.

P.S. a side note, the work on the house looks great!

The spots you refer to on Wall are directly across from the TVA Credit Union and, from my observation, are used largely by patrons there. If I'm not mistaken, they're only 15 minute meters as is. And they stay full for the most part during business hours.

I really don't understand why we should have any free parking downtown during the day, myself. I guarantee that the metered spots turn over more reliably than the parallel stuff along Gay that's only marked with time limit signage. And from a retail perspective, that's what's needed.

And yeah, I don't know of too many successful downtowns that offer abundant free parking. The garages are now free in the evening, and enforcement stops at 6 on the street (except for things like fire hydrants). During the day it's a function of supply and demand. And I'm happy there's enough demand these days to keep them full.

KPD still, for whatever reason, can't seem to get it together to run consistant enforcement. Seems like it's a week on here and there and then a week off, or some such. If one could rely on getting a ticket when ignoring the rules, I think a good deal of the problems would take care of themselves. Bring back the meter maids.
~m.

I'm curious as to what the meter money goes to pay for, does it have a purpose other than keeping people from hogging the spot. On the city and county building parking, its horrible that there aren't even handicapped spots nearby. It also gets lost on the media when they say the garage was closed because of 9-11, when it in fact did not close until 2003.

Stacey, there are a couple of handicap spaces next to the old courthouse but I imagine they fill up fast. I think there are a few by the ground floor entrance as well.

My favorite lot is the one on Hill beside the bank building. That lot is rarely full and if it is, there's another gravel lot by Riverhouse. A big plus is they have shade trees.

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

I believe there is "free" parking (every day?) in some parking garages after a certain hour. Nothing to do with County Commission, MPC, etc. meetings.