Grand Rapids Decides NOT To Ban Surface Parking Lots Downtown
THANK GOD!
Yeah, I said it in all caps because THANK GOD Grand Rapids won’t be banning new surface parking lots downtown now.
Late last year, the city released part of the GR Forward Plan which said that we should ban new surface parking lots. According to MLive, the plan banned lots between Michigan, Wealthy, Seward and Division.
This was a crazy plan since monthly parking permits are already at around 95% and a HUGE complaint with coming to downtown Grand Rapids is that there’s NO place to park!
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce heard a lot of feedback and sent a letter to the city commission regarding the parking situation and proposed ban downtown
From MLive, a part of the letter the Chamber sent:
"The Chamber recommends the City Commission not change new surface lot zoning from a special land use to a prohibited use, as proposed in the GR Forward zoning updates," the letter from the chamber reads. "Given the high demand for immediate parking solutions, the use of surface lots will provide the quickest and most cost-effective relief."
So our voices were heard… The Grand Rapids City Commission has decided it won’t be banning new surface lots downtown. Again, THANK GOD!
source: MLive