There are roughly 25 on street parking spots on Washington St. The parking authority offered up a Valet parking service to the merchants a few weeks ago, when they met with merchants to go over plans for the Haviland Garage Deck repair project. At the time, it must have seemed like a good idea, but once implemented it seems as if there was the usual uproar that ensues whenever change is introduced to parking. The Hour reports:
On Thursday morning, white bags reading “No Parking, City of Norwalk” went over parking meters that street, ushering in a weekend, valet service aimed at alleviating parking pressures during work on the nearby Haviland Deck. By late afternoon, the bags had been removed.
“We pulled the plug. Basically, (the plan) was sabotaged. Everybody pulled the bags off the meters we needed. Obviously, if removing the bags is any (indication of the) level of interest in the program, I think the answer (about its future) is quite evident,” said Frank Del Monaco, director of municipal services for LAZ Parking. “No good deed goes unpunished. As far as I’m concerned, we’re doing everything we can. We lowered the (evening) rate at Maritime Garage by 66 percent.”
Under the valet plan, now apparently defunct, four parking meters in front of Ocean Drive and six meters on the opposite side of Washington Street were to be bagged Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons to create a pick-up area for valet service after 5 p.m. For $10, motorists could have their vehicles taken by valet service and parked at the nearby North Water Street parking lot. After 5 p.m. on those days, the North Water Street facility, a nearby 43-space municipal lot, would be used for valet parking and self-parking would be prohibited.
The plan was part of an effort to alleviate parking pressures during the overhaul of the Haviland Deck, a 280-space municipal parking facility on Haviland Street. At the Maritime Garage, for instance, the after-5 p.m. rate has been lowered from $3 to $1 — a 66-percent reduction.
Several SoNo merchants, however, weren’t pleased with the plan for valet parking on the weekends, which they said would take away on-street parking during the afternoon since the “No Parking” bags must be placed over the meters at least two hours before the 5 p.m. start time for the valet service.
Further, the valet service was to cost $10 and eliminate use of the North Water Street lot for first-come, first-served parking after 5 p.m. on the three days.
“It’s $10 a pop every time. My customers will pay, but it’s wrong. We’re advising customers not to use it.” said Joe Bruno, owner of Pasta Nostra at 116 Washington St., early Thursday afternoon, before LAZ Parking canned the plan. And, “They’re taking 43 spaces of inventory (away).”
Bruno was one of a number of SoNo business owners to receive an e-mail from LAZ Parking Ltd. announcing the introduction of the valet service for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 5 p.m. According to Del Monaco, the plan was to go before the city’s Traffic Authority next week.
Bruno was not the only SoNo merchant torqued over the plan.
Joining him Thursday afternoon on Washington Street were Neil Monaster-sky, manager of the Bulldog Bar & Grill; Haszen Khalil of And Company, Inc.; Dick Peffenbach of the Higgins Group Real Estate; Larry Pellegrini of Pellegrini Jewelers; and Gina Mon-tanaro, owner of Hair Shop SoNo.
“My clientele comes in for a haircut and color,” said Montanaro, referring to afternoon customers who park on the street at the meters that were to be bagged. “Sometimes they’re here for more than two hours.”
Last week, Bruno and owners of two other Washington Street businesses met in SoNo with Del Monaco and Kathryn R. Hebert, administrative services manager at the Public Works Department.
Bruno and Del Monaco gave differing accounts of the outcome of that meeting. Bruno said business owners offered to hire a valet service and run buses, at their expense, from Washington Street to various parking facilities, including the Maritime Garage.
Okay we are following along with some schoolhouse rock math. 25 minues 10 equals 15. There were 15 on street parking spaces still available on Washington street.With parking there are no easy solutions, ever. Which is why it was nice to see the City of Norwalk offering up cheap $1 a night parking at the Maritime Garage, which is about 750 feet away from Washington Street along Water Street and 500 feet away from North Main street either on Marshall or Ann Street.
But if we read between the lines here, it doesn’t appear that cheap parking for customers is really the issue at all.
“We restaurants who are running it would have paid for it. We shouldn’t be taking the (metered and North Water Street lot) spaces away,” Bruno said. Instead “a unilateral decision was made by the city.”
Del Monaco, however, said hiring a private firm would pose liability issues and hurdles for the city. LAZ Parking already offers valet services, such as at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk during special events, he said.
“We believe that by offering a valet service for the benefit of the entire Washington Street district, it will be to everyone’s benefit,” said Del Monaco earlier Thursday, before the plan was yanked. “Now of course, you don’t have to valet your car. If you want to park it yourself at the Maritime Garage for $1 (after 5 p.m.), it’s two-tenths of a mile from Washington Street.”
According to Del Monaco, the North Water lot has little turnover
after 5 p.m. and was best suited for valet parking, which will allow cars to
be stacked — double-parked by valets and attendants, increasing lot capacity.Del Monaco acknowledged that LAZ Parking erred Thursday morning in placing “No Parking” bags over all Washington Street meters Thursday — the bags on the west end of the street were later removed.
Well, okay then. The restaurants, vaguely attributed here so we’ll go with Bruno of Pasta Nostra wants to run his own valet service. And then the Parking Authority erred in placing bags on meters on Thursday.
Arnie D’Angelo, owner of Bacchus at 120 Washington St., described the valet parking plan as a “little overzealous” in that it would eliminate the North Street lot for general parking during valet services. At the same time, D’Angelo offered that he was willing to see how it worked.
“We’re all optimistic; we hope it works. Let’s hope it doesn’t take six months to get this (Haviland Deck) project done,” D’Angelo said.
RAM Construction Services, the city’s approved contractor for the Haviland Deck overhaul, has 120 days to complete the project or face penalties, according to public works officials. During the construction, Haviland Deck permit holders are able to park at the Maritime Garage using access cards.
If it weren’t for the insurance and liability issues, it would seem that there’s a viable valet parking service business there to be had. Especially in taking advantage of the $1 night parking at the Maritime Garage.
source: The Hour, Covered meters open unexpected can of worms, By Robert Koch, August 15, 2008
