HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Banys
Bambi Banys <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Downtown Parking
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City Council,
We stand at a precipice and I fear that you will not fully understand the negative impact of your policies until we are in free
fall towards the rocks below.
The vacant square footage downtown, including large “anchor” spaces, is alarming and poised to increase.
Policy decisions over just the last couple of years (since May 2021) including: removing parking spaces for revised bike
lanes; extending meters to include Sundays; extending meters to 9pm, extending meters to include loading zones from
6pm-9pm; increasing the meter rate from $1.25 to $4; and now a planned meter rate increase to $5 per hour in
January 2024 (a QUADRUPLING of the hourly rate), combined with new shopping centers providing free parking and an
ever increasing number of addict and mentally ill vagrants, is driving locals away from downtown. Locals aren’t coming
downtown for dinner, drinks or shopping. We are seeing less of previously regular customers and they are telling
downtown business owners that they can’t afford the added cost of parking. Fewer locals are planning their personal or
business private events downtown. Our event bookings are down 75% this fall. I was recently told, by an invitee of a
business event scheduled at our business: “Sadly, our charming little town has been overrun with bums and junkies so I
don’t go downtown after dark anymore.”
It doesn’t stop with locals. Tourists are now routinely commenting on the cost of parking and the high vacancy rate
downtown. No one wants to visit a bombed out downtown and pay premium parking prices to do it. Once San Luis Obispo
is no longer perceived as having a thriving downtown, and we are close to that point, tourists will opt for Paso Robles,
Arroyo Grande, Avila and even Atascadero - all cities with vibrant ‘downtowns’ offering free, or markedly cheaper, parking
and far fewer vagrants. Once that happens, we will be off the cliff.
You must make changes in your policies now, before we reach the tipping point. Vacate the planned increase to $5 per
hour and implement the first 2 hours free at meters AND garages. Do not be responsible for killing one of the truly
remarkable downtowns left in California.
Bambi Banys, CEO & Co-Owner
Antigua Brewing Company
Crafting Happiness
1009 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
antiguabrewingusa.com
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