Lot reopens, concerns remain over fees
New paving and stripes in place, paid parking soon
NORWALK — Visitors would pay 50 cents an hour to park at Liberty Square. Three spaces would be allotted to 15-minute free parking. Monthly parking permits would run residents and employees $25.
The Norwalk Parking Authority on Wednesday evening considered but stopped short of approving those rates for the revamped 61-space parking lot serving the historic retail complex along the Norwalk River.Vice Chairman Michael Harden described the lot as “one of the last sole survivors of free parking in Norwalk.” He acknowledged Liberty Square tenants’ opposition to the authority’s plan to introduce paid parking.
“At the end of the day, it’s change and everyone has a hard time with change — especially when it’s not your own change. When the change is given to you, it’s difficult to go through,” Harden said. But “they have a beautiful facility now.”
Harden postponed action on the proposed rates until the authority’s Nov. 28 meeting as a courtesy to member Eric Raines, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting at the Norwalk police headquarters.
The Liberty Square lot reopened Monday after being closed for two weeks to accommodate $85,000 worth of improvements, including landscaping, repaving, striping and installation of electrical conduits for two pay stations. Grasso Construction performed the work.
In the coming weeks, the pay stations, lighting and security cameras will be installed with the cameras adding $40,000 to the cost of the improvement project,
according to Norwalk Director of Transportation, Parking and Mobility Kathryn Hebert.
In addition to undertaking the physical improvements, the city also will take responsibility for regular plowing and trash pickup.
While Liberty Square residents, merchants and property owners have welcomed those changes, they’ve voiced opposition to bringing paid parking to the lot.
“I’m just concerned because I’m a tenant and I want to know what the status is going to be for the parking,” Johnnie Weldon, who lives at Liberty Square, said after the meeting. “We have to make sure that it will be feasible and accommodating for those who pay rent and then have to pay for parking.”
Earlier Wednesday, Carlos Vargas and Griselda Loza, owners of Los Molcajetes Mexican Restaurant at Liberty Square, said they were pleased that the lot reopened early.
“We’re very, very happy,” Loza said. “The first week, we had two customers that Monday when it was closed.”
The Parking Authority closed the lot Oct. 8 with the expectation of reopening it Nov. 8.
Vanessa Valadares, senior civil engineer in the Norwalk Department of Public Works, said the work proceeded faster than planned despite rainy weather.
“At the end of the day, it’s change and everyone has a hard time with change — especially when it’s not your own change. When the change is given to you, it’s difficult to go through.” Norwalk Parking Authority Vice Chairman Michael Harden