On Monday night, Charlottesville City Council approved the creation of a new parking department during the construction of the Market Plaza.
City Council Member Bob Fenwick said the Council is in the beginning stages of finding ways to improve and organize parking.
“The parking division would be like a clearinghouse of information for where we can park, how much will it cost, how long would it take,” Fenwick said.
The new parking department will focus on locating alternative parking solutions in the Downtown Mall area during and after the construction of Market Plaza.
The Market Plaza development proposal was approved by the Council in December 2014. It includes up to 69 apartments, a three-story office space and double-story retail area for stores and restaurants.
Keith Woodard, developer of the Market Plaza at Woodard Properties, said in an email that there will be a press release on the multi-use building within the next month.
The construction of the Market Plaza is set to begin either this year or in the spring of 2017 and will occupy the current metered parking lot on Water Street on the Downtown Mall.
“This is the lot that Market Plaza LLC will purchase from the City to build Market Plaza, and part of our purchase agreement is to replace the existing 102 spaces with the same amount in the new building when it is completed,” Woodard said.
The cost of parking in the new Market Plaza has not been set.
The two other parking centers on Water Street — the Parking Garage and the First and Water Parking lot — will not be affected by the construction.
“There are currently about 160 spaces [in First and Water] and it will remain open during construction,” Woodard said.
President of Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Timothy Hulbert said in an email that private investment is essential to enhance downtown’s ability to compete with other commercial and residential areas.
“We are somewhat aware of the Market Plaza project which overall looks to be a sound, visionary project, with smart, successful management that can add vitality to our already vibrant downtown,” Hulbert said.
Dave Norris, General Manager of the Charlottesville Parking Center, said in an email that he is excited for the development of the Market Plaza to move forward.
“It will increase the tax base downtown while providing a vibrant new home for Charlottesville City's Market, with much better amenities than the Market and its patrons enjoy now,” Norris said.
Hulbert said that the Chamber prioritized additional parking to strengthen the attraction of downtown business area to visitors.
“After decades of City ideology and regulation to ‘get people out of cars,’ it shouldn’t be surprising that there now is an under-supply of parking in downtown. Reality is that most people travel by cars,” Hulbert said. “By not having adequate parking options — public and private — the downtown area, or any commercial area, competes at a disadvantage.”
The new parking department would also look into latest technologies to make parking in the downtown area more convenient for shoppers and businesses, Fenwick added.
Read More
Podcast revolutionizes storytelling for Charlottesville and its sister city
By Brandon Kile | 4 hours agoCharlottesville has four sister cities total, the other three being Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Poggio a Caiano, Italy and Winneba, Ghana.
Student Council debates resolution for increased allergen transparency, reviews summer budget
By Arshiya Pant | YesterdayThe resolution aimed to support students by requiring U.Va. Dine locations to provide a comprehensive list of allergens for food items on GrubHub.
Honor Committee brainstorms sanction diversification, considers future steps for AI
By Lexie Stadler | 2 days agoHancock and Carson Breus, vice chair for sanctions and third-year Commerce student, said they are collaborating to explore fresh sanctioning avenues.
