Parking Fees At Epicentre Garage Has Local Workers Outraged

CHARLOTTE, NC– Parking at the Epicentre garage is up nearly 15 percent in just the last few weeks. That number coming directly from reps at Preferred Parking who say it’s the first increase since the complex opened.

Idis Cuevas works at one Epicenter restaurant and says “At least on average a month I ‘m spending an extra 200 dollars in parking!”

Cuevas says she is spending way too much to park in the Epicenter parking garage.

“I’m a full time employee so I ‘m here at least 5 out of 7 days and working doubles two a days and once you hit over 10 hours it’s still 20 bucks,” says Cuevas.

We checked and on a normal day the cost of parking in the Preferred Parking levels are $4 for the first half hour even after 5pm.

And $3 for each additional half hour. So 3 hours will cost 19 bucks.

“It’s just inconvenient, so if I can save a couple bucks and save staying in South Charlotte versus staying here enjoying a night out and having to pay for parking it would absolutely deter me,” says Amelia Lockhart.

We checked and across the street the Bank of America parking lot, right now the garage is full and only open to monthly parkers, but normally it”ll run you 5 bucks after 5 pm if you’re out by 3 am.

On the other side of the Epicenter off East 4th Street and Brevard, we found this parking lot where it’s priced at 10 dollars to park here and after 4pm and weekdays it’s 5 bucks.

We found this lot just a few blocks from the Epicenter and it’s right by the transit center and it’s priced at $8.50.

Cuevas says cheaper parking is too far.

“It’s kind of sketchy going over there late at night when you get out of work and everything, not really to be walking that far just to park.”

Lindsey Klein also works at a restaurant at the Epicentre and has an alternative.

“It cost more money to park and use my personal car than it does to Uber back and forth twice in one day,” says Klein.

Preferred Parking said they raised the maximum parking at the Epicentre from 20 to 23 dollars.

They do offer specials if you park on certain levels and within certain time periods.