Kalamazoo debates downtown parking fee hike, local business owners weigh in

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo city commissioners might soon decide to increase parking rates in parts of downtown Kalamazoo.

Specifically, it’d be near the Downtown Kalamazoo Mall and the parking ramps close by.

We heard from residents last week on the proposal, and Monday we’re hearing from local business owners who have mixed views.

“We’ve owned this shop for six years, but Pop City Popcorn has been here for 11 years,” Becky Bil, the owner of Pop City Popcorn, said.

“I’ve been down here for over 20 years, so I’ve seen all different types of changes downtown,” Stephen Darden, owner of Exquisite Hair Designs, said.

Commissioners sat down for the first time to hear public commentary on their proposal to increase parking rates downtown for parking ramps and to now implement and increase parking meters along all of Kalamazoo Mall’s street parking.

“Parking on the street has been free for up to 90 minutes, and sometimes I can see the same vehicle parked right outside my shop all day long. So, the parking spaces are not turning quickly,” Bil said.

Currently, street parking is free after 5 p.m. and on the weekends. During work hours, it’s still free, but drivers are supposed to move their cars after 90 minutes of parking. Bil says that’s not the case in front of her shop.

She says enforcing a fee that will likely open up parking spaces in front of her business sounds nice.

“We feel like this is a good change,” Bil said.

However, that’s not the same outlook for other businesses also on a strip of the Kalamazoo Mall.

“We have to look at the revenue for the businesses that come downtown. What will that cause them to lose if we charge them more?” Darden said.

Darden, who owns a hair salon, says for him and his clients, a hairdo can’t always be done in 90 minutes.

Instead, Darden thinks the city should look to implement more parking especially during times when it’s already limited due to space and recent construction.

“I think some of the areas that get some of the heavier foot traffic should be allowed to have the free parking,” Darden said.

According to the city’s commission agenda report, that is the exact opposite of their plan, which states, “the blueprint calls for a multi-tiered parking pricing structure with a higher rate where demand is more robust, including The Kalamazoo Mall, and a lower rate elsewhere.”

“I would say, more parking downtown would definitely be a good thing but charging on the limited amount of parking that we already have, that may be a problem,” Darden said.

As far as parking ramps are concerned, locals and visitors are already paying $1.75 for every hour after the first 90 minutes. News Channel 3 is going to see our next big development on July 15th.

That’s when city commissioners will meet again on the issue – and possibly even approve it.