HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, LaChapelle
Shoresman, Michelle
Sent:Monday, November 6, 2023 10:37 AM
To:Alex LaChapelle
Cc:E-mail Council Website
Subject:RE: Downtown Parking
Thank you for your comments Alex.
I am copying the all-council email address so that your comments can be entered into the official record.
Thanks again.
From: Alex LaChapelle <
Sent: Monday, November 6, 2023 9:07 AM
To: Stewart, Erica A <estewart@slocity.org>; Marx, Jan <jmarx@slocity.org>; Francis, Emily <EFrancis@slocity.org>;
Pease, Andy <apease@slocity.org>; Shoresman, Michelle <mshoresm@slocity.org>
Subject: Downtown Parking
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Good morning,
I'm pleased to hear that you will be reevaluating recent decisions to increase parking rates in downtown San Luis
Obispo. As a longtime resident, I have been incredibly disappointed in the decisions that have been made regarding our
downtown. I feel as if we have lost our soul and have turned into a greedy town that is trying to capitalize on tourist
dollars, losing sight of how these changes impact residents.
This has been a hot button topic for me ever since SLO decided to push paid parking all the way up until 9pm. No city
that I travel to has paid parking that goes past 5 or 6pm. Santa Barbara still gives 75 minutes free and only charges $2.50
per hour.
San Luis Obispo's exorbitant parking rates have been a huge deterrent for me when it comes to dining out in the
evening. I frequently choose restaurants around town that have free parking and I know several people who do the
same.
As more shopping and dining areas crop up around town (Foothill, Tank Farm, Madonna, etc.) consumers will have more
choices and our downtown will suffer even more. I feel for downtown businesses who are now seeing the consequences
of these decisions. I hope that you will reverse these decisions so that they have every opportunity to be successful.
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On a side note: I do not understand why some restaurants are still allowed to have street side dining if the City claims
that we don't have enough parking and need another structure built. Not only does it not make sense, but this
hodgepodge of streetside dining with no uniformity looks terrible.
I appreciate your time and attention on this.
With respect,
Alex LaChapelle
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