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CHARLOTTE, NC — Parking problems.
The lack of spaces in some Charlotte neighborhoods is costing local businesses on the bottom line.
“Urban, suburban neighborhoods, the original suburbs of Charlotte, we’ve gotten squeezed out of the actual spaces where popularity has grown,” says Russell Fergusson of the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association.
It’s a familiar story. Too many cars, not enough parking spots. Plaza Midwood is going through a boom period. But it comes with some growing pains.
Penny Craver is one of the owners of The Dish on Thomas Avenue, a business that shares a city parking lot across the street.
“We’ve got a lot across the street that probably 20 businesses are relying on,” says Craver. “And it’s being taxed to 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 times its capacity.”
Solving the parking problem is a tough fix. Some businesses are charging to park. Others are using towing services to control their lots.
Russell Fergusson says the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association is looking at asking the city to require parking be part of the site plans for new businesses.
“It can be a little touchy between businesses, but for the most part here in our area, we’re lucky that everyone’s pretty much working together to try to overcome what is really a lack of parking,” says Fergusson.
“It can be hairy, but that’s good,” says Laurie Billadeau, who lives in NODA. “It means business, and people are out and about going out to eat and making money.”
The Plaza Midwood Merchants Association is also looking at parking decks as an option. Business owners hope the light rail line will be extended down Central Avenue to help reduce the traffic in the area.
