A NEED FOR CHANGE
P A R K I N G I N M I D T O W N
M I D T O W N W O E S
P A R K I N G S P A C E O C C U P A N C Y R A T E
On average, parked cars took up 85% of available spaces on more than 40% of streets in Midtown’s most highly-tra cked section, according to seven surveys conducted by Houston in early 2021. BUMPER BUMPER T O
A series of proposed parking rules in Midtown are designed to reduce the number of cars circling for parking spaces during peak hours. Coverage area: Midtown district bounded by Hwy. 59, I-45 and Bagby Street
50% or less
51%-84%
85%-100%
100%+
45
45
P
M I D T O W N
P
59
527
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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Moresecurityandmoreparking iswhatweneed, ... safety for our customersandemployees walking toand fromtheir cars. CASSANDRA DEBAKEY, EVENT COORDINATOR WITH THE DOGWOOD MIDTOWN AND ELECTRIC FEELGOOD
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of spaces available ino -street lots andgarages,” he said. “[Those spots] either aren’t available because those parking operators don’t want to try to compete with free street parking or they cost a few dollars, and people would rather cruise for the free spots.” With more than 20 bars and 30 restaurants operating in the core of Midtown—between Bagby and Fannin streets and north of Tuam Street—parking can ll up fast. Data from seven sur- veys conducted in the area in early 2021 by the city of Houston showed parked cars typically take up 85% of available spaces on more than 40% of streets. To make better use of the existing parking infra- structure, the city of Houston is looking into several new concepts, said Maria Irshad, assistant director for ParkHouston, the agency responsible for on-street parking in the city. The goal, she said, is to turn Mid- town into a place where the parking system runsmore e ciently, a process that has already resulted inmeter hours being extended in a section of Midtown. “Curb space is really managed through simple economics—supply and demand,” she said. “When
Within the area, there are more than: bars 20 30 restaurants
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district to make improvements within the district’s boundaries. A management district is a supplemental munici- pal district that works alongside the city of Houston to make a wide variety of improvements in an area. The rst key step in addressing Midtown’s park- ing problem was taken last August, when the city approvedachange inmeterhours inpartsofMidtown, extending them to midnight on Mondays through Saturdays. Previously, drivers could park between 6 p.m.-7 a.m. without having to pay the meter. The question now is whether the additional meter revenue will all go back to Houston’s Parking Rev- enue Special Fund or if a portion of it will remain in Midtown, Irshad said. The meter hour extension has
you’ve got high demand and low supply, you’ve got to put a price on it to be able to manage that curbside.” Theparkingproblem Houston’s exploration into a Parking Bene ts Dis- trict in Midtown was spurred in 2020 by Llamas, a transportation planning expert with the engineering rm TEI and the chair of the Midtown Management District’s Urban Planning Committee. Llamas said he took inspiration froma similar district that has been in place onWashington Avenue since 2014. The bene ts district would take 60% of the net money brought in by parking meters and permits and put it intoapot thatwouldbeusedby themanagement
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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