Paid parking was ‘foregone conclusion’ in Fremont

By Geeky Swedes · July 9th, 2009 · 5 Comments

Last year, the city met with Fremont residents and businesses to hear feedback on ways to improve parking in the neighborhood. One of the city’s suggestions was paid parking, an idea that sparked fierce opposition, but by March, parking meters appeared in Central Fremont. Now the city is starting a similar process in West Seattle, and the director of Fremont’s Chamber of Commerce says it’s not about improving parking, but raising money. “Someone at the top determined Fremont is getting pay stations, period,” Jessica Vets told the Seattle Times. “And it really didn’t matter what we said.” No decision has been made in West Seattle, but residents there told the Times they believe what happened in Fremont will likely happen there, as well.

5 responses so far ↓

1 holz // Jul 10, 2009 at 9:31 am

hopefully they'll at least fight it so it's not paid parking all through residential streets, which the city's first plan offered for fremont.

although parking hasn't improved one bit, the city sure seems to be raking in the dough - we get about 20-25 tickets on our street per week, when i think i saw a handful in the 3 years leading up to the RPZ.
2 FremontSheila // Jul 10, 2009 at 10:10 am

I've noticed that parking is much easier now. It might not be in the residential part, but it's much easier to find parking when I'm going to the chiropractor or to shop.
3 bobbybebar // Jul 10, 2009 at 9:25 pm

The rants by the Fremont business leader should not form your headlines! Lots of residents and businesses like the meters. The interviewee has (or at least presents) zero evidence of her hysterical claim that the gods had predermined Fremont would receive parking meters. Paying for parking - oh my!
4 NoraBell // Jul 12, 2009 at 12:21 pm

Ballard does just fine with the parking 'robots.' They haven't ruined the neighborhood. High rents are more likely to do that.
My only wish is that they took bills. They seem to all only take debit or coinage.
5 NoraBell // Jul 12, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Ballard does just fine with the parking 'robots.' They haven't ruined the neighborhood. High rents are more likely to do that.
My only wish is that they took bills. They seem to all only take debit or coinage.