Downtown parking

The neighboring building and business owner (shoe store, shoe repair, orthotic clinic) says downtown parking is a real problem — his customers can't find spots, he lost a contract over it, and the two-hour parking isn't enforced.

A longtime downtown property owner called the city's parking data flawed — counting library and restricted spaces — said true available parking is roughly half the claimed 325 spaces, and suggested a parking impact fee fund instead of simply letting COhatch off the hook.

The Ashland Avenue resident backed the parking impact fee idea and questioned why COhatch members aren't required to actually use their leased spaces, calling them a needed safety valve.

She explained the 2023 parking study RFP was scrapped after property owners promised to craft cooperative solutions with the city — which never happened — and asked the board to recommend the city pursue that study with local stakeholders.