Downtown districts north of Atlanta compete for visitors looking for a place to dine, shop or spend an evening out, a longtime restaurant owner said, adding that paid parking could put his city at a disadvantage.
In Roswell, some business owners worry paid parking will discourage visitors who might instead choose nearby districts such as Alpharetta or Woodstock, where parking is free.
During a regular meeting on March 9, Roswell City Council approved, in a split vote, a pilot program for paid parking at a new deck, as well as on-street parking. The plan is to implement paid parking through December and then review data to determine how to move forward.
Ryan Pernice owns two restaurants on Roswell’s downtown Canton Street — Osteria Mattone and Table and Main — with parking lots for patrons. He has been a leading voice in opposition to paid parking in the district. Paid parking is an “undue burden to business owners in our downtown,” he said.
“No one likes us to think that we are in competition with Alpharetta… Sandy Springs… Woodstock … (and) Norcross but we are,” Pernice said during public comment. “We’re in competition with them for visitors to our downtown, for businesses to open in our community, and for the quality of life that a center such as Canton Street provides.”
Jeffrey Leatherman, deputy city administrator of Community Services, said officials have come to understand that all of Roswell’s downtown parking, from lots to surface street parking, has “to work together as a system.” Parking at Hillrose, the planned mixed-use development across from City Hall, will also become part of that system in about a year and a half, he said.
The Green Street parking deck was funded through a $20 million bond referendum that was approved by voters in 2022. Last year, the city assured residents that the new deck, which is set to open in the spring, would be free.
Today, occasional visitors to Roswell’s downtown Canton Street will find parking is limited and costs can vary from free to a few dollars to as much as $10.
“… Parking is air to businesses, to restaurants, to retail, ”Jenna Aronowitz, owner of 1920 Tavern, told council.
“… The only thing worse than no (parking) deck, is an empty deck,” she added.
Aronowitz said that established restaurant patrons who return to 1920 Tavern after a long period of time have told her that parking concerns kept them away.
The city is also considering paid parking at Roswell Cultural Arts Center and City Hall where plans are to redevelop the lot.
Frustrated residents told Mayor Mary Robichaux and council members that requiring Roswell residents to pay to park at the Green Street deck or City Hall is essentially double-dipping from taxpayers.
Some said they would be open to a compromise in which the first two hours of parking would be free.
Resident Denise Woodall said it is the officials’ job to figure out a solution. She said she moved to Roswell for a sense of community and visits the downtown area daily, adding that she needs more than two hours of free parking.
“I don’t want to pay by the hour. I can’t pay by the hour. I literally cannot afford the bill,” Woodall said. “The money you are going to make with this parking you are going to lose in sales.”
I purposely avoid Roswell for the very reason parking stinks now and I will never go if paid parking is required. We go to Alpharetta and Woodstock for our dining and shopping outings. Roswell is crazy thinking paid parking g is going to bring visitors.
I agree the city of Roswell is not thinking if they are not considering the cost of parking as a detriment for businesses. I can hardly afford to eat out much less pay $10 – 20 parking too. It is double taxation realistically. Pay your taxes and pay for the parking in the parking lot which your taxes are paying for.
It was voted upon by taxpayers with a different design than they ended up. Free parking we were told. Bait and switch is why we dislike politicians so much. We told them time and time again to provide free shuttle service from the City Hall parking lot. It would have been so much cheaper than the ugly garage we got. No, I will not pay for parking to add to my cost of dinner. Restaurant row is going to be a has-been if they persist in this path which would be a shame since it is always fun to dine on Canton.
For Green Street, my property tax pays for the deck’s construction and my sales tax, which a portion comes back to the City, is the user fee.
For Hillrose, I’m glad the vote was tabled since I have not found evidence of public being made aware that the parking plan included City Hall Or Cultural Arts parking spaces to make up the difference between the 500 total spaces staff says are needed for the Hillrose development and the 350 spaces in the deck.
We were with some family who live in Decatur yesterday. Decatur began charging for parking and many of their businesses have closed or are on the brink of closing. Some cities charge a fee for the merchants to support parking; that has become unsustainable, especially for the non-bar/restaurant businesses. Maybe you need to do an article on the deal the deal the last Roswell administration cut for the Hillrose Market project…that may be the root cause for a lot of the budget shortfalls the current administration faces.
Roswell is in the midst of much change. Its demographics in 2036 will look little like 2026. These places would be wise to move up to north or start branching out toward Greenville. Ditto for the residents. As this current co-hort with families ages they won’t be replaced with other families. Those days look over for Metro Atlanta as a whole now. Good Luck – the river developments could go real well.
When we first moved to Decatur years ago, there was inexpensive metered parking as well as some free street parking near the square. We spent a lot of time taking walks, eating at restaurants, and visiting shops. Then came expensive paid parking in multiple decks with different apps you had to download…. It’s been years since we’ve gone to downtown Decatur because the paid parking situation is not worth it. Roswell is making a big mistake. If they promised the voters a free parking deck, then need to honor that.
Just keep electing those Libtards and Beaurorats with their tax and spend practises that benefit only the fortunate few (Illegals, non citizens and depraved). Hard working self-made entrepreneurs are forced once again to fight for their well being while Beaurorats bask in more control over people lives! Good Luck downtown Roswell!
This is literally an example of people not willing to do anything different than they always have.
Parking in congested areas will be paid parking now and in the future. Canton St in Roswell is super congested, esp THU-SAT nights.
And btw, you can park for free in the City Hall lot (huge), take the sidewalk through the trees and voila’ enter the crosswalk at the south end of Canton St. maybe a 1/4- mile. Just do it!
what parking got on board with the millions of entitled fatties, waddle from blue spot to door