East Franklinton parking meters being replaced by apps, kiosks
Visitors to the microbrews and other draws in East Franklinton are finding a different on-street parking situation there, with fewer parking meters and more parking spaces that must be paid for via four newly installed kiosks or the Parkcolumbus app.
City crews have been busy removing meters and adding signs along streets telling motorists about the app. It’s a similar situation to what visitors to the Short North and Downtown have seen.
The rates west of Mcdowell Street are 50 cents an hour with no time limit, while east of Mcdowell they are $1 an hour for the first three hours, increasing by 50 cents an hour every two hours
to a maximum of $12, said Amanda Ford, a manager in the city’s Division of Parking Services.
Ford said the new system will encourage turnover for the businesses, and generate money for the city.
“Ideally the streets will be freed up” by the changes, Ford said. “A lot of development has taken place over there.”
Two 30-minute meters will remain on Rich Street in front of the River and Rich apartments, along with a meter for drivers with disabilities, Ford said.
And visitors will ultimately find that more on-street parking spots in Franklinton will require payment.
Ford said there had been 259 metered spaces in East Franklinton before construction started on the Scioto Peninsula development and other projects.
By September, there remained only 51 meters in service after the rest had been removed or hooded.
Now there are about 275 parking spaces that can be used with payments through the parking kiosks or the Parkcolumbus mobile payment app. Existing single space meters will be removed this week once all signs have been installed.
Ultimately, once all construction is complete, there will be roughly 350 paid parking spaces, Ford said.
Areas where people will have to pay to park include West State Street between Starling and Mill streets, West Town Street from just east of Belle Street west to Gift Street, Mcdowell Street between West Broad Street and the Scioto River, and May Avenue between West Broad and West State streets.
Meredith Miles, a spokeswoman for Land Grant Brewing at 424 W. Town St., said that after the city revealed its first plan for the area, Land Grant and others in the neighborhood went to the city with concerns. City officials made some changes, including no paid parking along Chapel Street and on Lucas Street along Land Grant’s property, giving employees places to park for free.
Miles said the city also understands that the area needs to remain accessible to customers.
“We know that parking is always a barrier for some people,” said Miles, who said the new parking plan could deter some people from visiting the area.
“We can fill our beer garden with a lot of people,” Miles said. “They find their way down here.”
Sarah Dixon, the owner of Jewelweed Flower & Plant Shop, 391 W. Rich St., said she wishes the city could have waited longer to unveil the new system. The spots in front of her store had been free. Now those who park there will have to pay.
“I think it’s a little fast,” said Dixon, who opened in Franklinton a year ago after running her business on East Long Street, Downtown. “We could have waited a bit to activate a paid situation. If we had a higher residential population and density right by these businesses, it would make more sense.”
Nick Dunn, 32, a Short North resident hanging out at Brewdog at 463 W. Town St., said some people may not notice the new app signs.
All of the changes are part of a new parking plan and district in East Franklinton, roughly bordered by Route 315 to the west, Scott Street and a rail line north of West Broad Street to the north, Lucas Street and a rail line to the east, and the Scioto River and Interstate 70 and 71 to the south.
Within this area, developers would have to pay a one-time fee of $15,000 per parking space if they don’t meet city requirements for parking. But there would be a cap as to how much a developer would pay, and it applies only to future development. mferench@dispatch.com @Markferenchik