Austin’s Daily Commentary – Plans For Renovated Parking Spaces in Downtown Augusta

Austin: Recently, downtown business owners were gathered to inspect what are supposed to be the plans for renovated parking spaces in Downtown Augusta. Actually, the interior areas of Broad Street down on the lower end around the 500 block, the 600 block of Broad are getting a complete redo, a facelift, if you will.

And, again, one of the most surprising aspects of that consideration is that, apparently, the number of overall spots is going to be reduced significantly by about 20%, I'm told. Unbelievable turn of events, and when asked specifically why in the world that's happening because right now parking spaces that are premium, if you've been downtown particularly on a busy weekend night where there's a lot of folks eating out and going to theater events and things like that. Very difficult to park.

City leaders were at a loss as to why there was such a significant number of parking spaces that are set to be reduced. A number of the businesses, specifically our friends at Luigi's, the Ballas family, have come together with other business owners downtown who are working to oppose these changes. And while it's an old plan that's been around for a while and it might cost money to change it, most definitely, it's gotten the attention of the stakeholders in Downtown Augusta who depend on accessible parking and easy parking for their customers to come and go.

Folks, I don't mean to, you know, be a crinch about this, but what moron thinks that it's better to reduce the number of parking spots in an increasingly busy and successful Downtown Augusta? These plans have got to change.

I don't care what the cost is. Common sense must prevail here. Less spaces? Absolutely not. More efficient spaces? Sure. More spaces period is what's needed.

And that's the comment. I'm Austin Rhodes. 95.1 FM News Talk, WGAC.