The Virginia Beach Parking Problems (Chesapeake: condo, purchase, live)

[Erma]

That's the ticket! Go to a private beach. I won't swim at the beach, the waters' too salty, so I prefer to swim at home. I do enjoy the sand and just the relaxation though.

[janeannwho]

I am just amazed at how the city just lets their prime area go. I see such possibilities for that area, but I guess if people want ticky tack and that is what they come for, then so be it. I grew up summering on the Jersey shore and we always had great clubs, great music, great restaurants all within walking distance once you hit the town. Here there is great weather all year round and empty hotel after empty hotel, just seems a shame, would rather see the city get more from the revenue stream and less from the oppressive parking. I was down there last night at Murphy's and it struck me again.

[Erma]

From what I gather, the tourists who stay in hotels, have hotel parking. That's the key to the tourism down there. Off street parking is mostly for those staying away from the ocean front. What I don't quite get, is that the parking lots that are extremely expensive are privately owned and there is no city cap on the fees. This can only be said that maybe the city is getting some big bucks for these lots and the owners have no choice in charging 15 dollars for a weekend day to park.
We used to have our company christmas parties at the beach clubs, but due to only allowing hotel guests to park, we've changed it to other places where our people won't have to walk 3-4 blocks at midnight to get their vehicles.

[janeannwho]

It is totally amazing. We will go to Mahi Mahs because of that. At night, there are all kinds of empty lots that are marked for towing rather than being availabe for the local restaurant crowd. Do the merchants downtown not talk to each other?

[bbguy05]

And make sure you don't drive up and down Atlantic Avenue more than twice looking for parking, because you will get a ticket for "cruising the strip".

[Erma]

yea, they started that to eliminate traffic. At the price of gas today, parking and walking would be more sensible, but we are talking about the "parking" problems.

[CosmicWizard]

I lived in Virginia Beach for 16 years. If I would have put a pea in a jar for every time I went to the beach during my first three years, and then removed one each time I went to the beach during the last 13 years, the jar would still be half full of peas.

[EagleFeatherFloats]

Conform, or stay away. Simple logic, really.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by George Abney

Conform, or stay away. Simple logic, really.

It is simple logic George, but there is a justified reason for locals to be a little t'd off with the parking issues, since we all pay the taxes to care for the beach and boardwalk.

[janeannwho]

More than locals being annoyed, Virginia Beach is losing a huge source of revenue when they push customers out of the Resort area. The merchants are losing money because people have such a negative attitude of the place. It makes no economic sense to create a negative enviroment. The town center has tons of parking and does great business with nothing but chain restaurants. I think you should be able to buy a city pass for the year for locals parking, meaning you pay so much and you get a pass for parking anywhere in the city for a period of time. They do it in Chicago and it works.