Report Shows Number Of Center City Parking Spaces Has Dropped
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A funny thing is happening as Center City Philadelphia grows: parking is shrinking. In fact, the number of parking spaces decreased by seven-percent in the last five years.
The City Planning Commission says there are 46,000 public parking spaces in Center City, down by almost 4,000 from 2010. Development has claimed most of them.
Parking magnate Rob Zuritsky says there's a reason developers are choosing not to replace the spots:
"Costs are very, very high to build parking in the city and taxes on parking are so punitive that, added together with construction costs, it makes it nearly impossible to make parking economically viable."
At the same time, though, city planner Austin Mason says there's less demand:
"Despite more people on the ground, there are fewer people parking."
Mason says occupancy rates also dropped to an average of 74-percent.
David Kanthor of the City Planning Commission says more people living in the commercial core -- near jobs and stores-- means less driving:
"Public transportation use has increased greatly, bicycling is up, there's increased pedestrian activity."
Their report says parking can be made more attractive with better signs and technology such as apps that compare parking rates at different facilities.