Era Ending to Encourage Development in West Dearborn

With some exceptions, an era is coming to an end with the elimination of user-paid parking in west Dearborn, with some exceptions.

The city of Dearborn is phasing out its user-paid parking system in the west downtown business district to promote greater interest from real estate developers and to boost customer activity.

By March 24 or sooner, the majority of parking meters will have been removed. The gates on lots with attendants are also free, effective Sunday March 15, the city said in a news release.

The city said that if drivers park at a spot with a meter at any time, they must still pay the meter or face a fine.

About 40 meters along Mason, Howard, and West Village Drive will remain after March 24 to encourage customer turnover. These spots are among the most convenient parking spaces to nearby businesses.

Parking restrictions will still be enforced at the meters on the three streets. Meters will remain along Howard, from West Village Drive to Garrison; Mason, from West Village Drive to Michigan Avenue; and West Village Drive, along Mason to Howard.

Mayor: Remove Perceived Obstacles

The de-commissioning of the user-paid parking system addresses the perception that paid parking is an obstacle to redevelopment.

It also addresses a popular sentiment that paying for parking in public lots, decks and on-street spaces discourages customers who would otherwise patronize west Dearborn businesses.

The city Council voted on Oct. 21 to phase out the user-paid system, based on a recommendation from the Mayor and the Parking Advisory Commission.

“This is a very positive step that will help us achieve our goal of promoting more investment and activity in the west downtown,” Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. said in the news release. “To get the best results for our local economy, we need to be realistic and remove anything that is perceived as an impediment to recreating a robust and vibrant business district.”

The public parking system will continue to be financed with money from the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (WDDDA) and the city’s general fund at a lesser amount than in previous years.

The city is also discussing the re-instatement of a Special Assessment District (SAD) to cover the operational costs of the parking system.

Under a SAD, which is a public version of a Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charge implemented at private malls and multi-client centers, businesses that use the public parking spaces will be required to pay for their upkeep, insurance and snow removal, but not infrastructure improvements.

The boundaries of the SAD and the cost allocation assigned to each business would be determined at public hearings before the City Council.

In conjunction with new businesses opening this spring, the WDDDA will launch a marketing campaign promoting the downtown district, including the end of almost all user-paid parking spots.

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