For Metro Atlantans, deciding to dine outside of their community is about more than a menu.
In North Fulton, cities like Alpharetta have leaned into that reality, pairing downtown districts with free and accessible parking.
Roswell will soon open a new parking deck in its Canton Street district. And while a parking deck isn’t glamorous, it plays a key role in how seamless a visit to Roswell’s downtown corridor feels, residents say.
The city will soon launch a pilot program charging a fee to use the deck, as well as on-street parking. Downtown business owners and residents worry their city is becoming less competitive for visitors because of parking, while Alpharetta is considered the gold standard for drawing in patrons to restaurants and shops.
On Wednesday, Mayor Mary Robichaux met with three business owners representing a larger group in the downtown district. Business owners and residents are urging the city to offer free parking at the new deck, at least on a trial basis, until a long-term solution to covering operating costs is identified.
Ryan Pernice, who owns Osteria Mattone and Table and Main, said the business owners want the city to charge whatever amount is necessary for already established on-street parking, and use those funds to fund the free deck.
The meeting, held at City Hall, included Councilwomen Sarah Beeson and Erin Brumley, along with city staff. It was the mayor’s second meeting with business owners in less than two weeks and followed a March 30 town hall where residents voiced strong opposition to paid parking.
City officials estimate that operating all of Roswell’s parking options would cost about $800,000 annually, while generating $400,000 in revenue. The Green Street parking deck was funded through a $20 million bond referendum that was approved by voters in 2022. Those dollars cannot be used for maintenance and operations, Beeson said, during the meeting.
Business owners pressed for a clearer accounting of the operating costs of the new Green Street deck, separate from the city’s other paid parking options. That breakdown was not provided.
Robichaux said she wants to find a solution and asked Jeffrey Leatherman, deputy city administrator of Community Services, to provide the breakdown that business owners are seeking. She also raised questions about whether increasing on-street parking fees alone would be sufficient to offset the cost of operating the deck.
A resident, who has lived in Roswell for 48 years, said that while he and his wife love the city, when friends and family visit from out of town, he takes them to Alpharetta because of the free parking.
“They have two beautiful parking decks that are free… [and] free street parking,” he said, adding that Alpharetta’s downtown area “is packed, especially on weekends.”
While still in office, former Mayor Kurt Wilson stated that the parking deck would be free. Backing out of that understanding with the public jeopardizes Roswell’s image with residents and potential visitors, Eileen Rardin Rochlin told Robichaux.
She and her husband are investors in Clean Plate Restaurants, which owns Lola’s Burger and Tequila Bar, North End Kitchen and Bar and Zest, all establishments on Canton Street.
“We’re throwing such a dagger in our reputation,” Rochlin said of the city of Roswell. “Perception is reality … Let’s open up this garage with fanfare and for free initially.”
Following the meeting, Rochlin added: “There are other communities that are really fabulous, that really kind of outshine us in infrastructure and other things… We need to entice people to come here. We want to welcome them. We don’t want to push them away.”
Others echoed similar concerns about Roswell’s appeal and competitiveness.
“An economy of a city is such a finely woven together fabric of things that have to be working in order for a city to be firing on all cylinders, and we’re surrounded by cities that seem to be figuring that out…” said Margie Cooper, founder of Inspired Practices in Early Education on Canton Street.
Cooper said, Canton Street has helped shape Roswell’s character and charm, and she worries that the pilot program could be a sign that the city has already made the final decision on parking fees.
“I don’t sense that they’re particularly open at this late juncture to modify their position,” she said.
