???? Did I Hear The News Correctly ???? (Seattle, Bellevue: sales, rent, university)

[Vinylly]

I was listening to the late night news on TV and it seems, if I heard correctly, the merchants in Pioneer Sq. are complaining about the huge increase in parking meters and what it has done for their business. They are reporting thier sales are only about 60% of what it was at this time last year. They are blaming it on the punitive increase in parking meters.
We're suppose to be coming out of a severe ressession and sales should be better then last year at this time. Seems it's the reverse here. It' my opinion that the mayor and the city council have made a huge mistake by making downtown Seattle too expensive to shop. Have they also done what they were thinking about, and that was to extend the parking meter time from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Sunday even???
If they have done this, I see more trouble ahead. Many business like resturants and taverns will be forced to move out of downtown. Can you spell 'GHOST TOWN??' Infact, for a retired couple like ourselves, downtown Seattle is already too expensive to shop. Although Capital Hill is about the closest community to downtown, my wife and I no longer go there. We always shop at University Village, Northgate, or Bellevue Square. Now, with a huge toll going up to cross the bridge to the Eastside, Bellevue Sq. will be crossed off our list. That toll is going to create even more problems ahead, specially for commutors. Seems like the state and local politicians are bent on making this state and this town the most expensive and most undesirable place to live, -specially for retired people.

[seattlenextyear]

As if Elliot Bay moving had nothing to do with it? That's the only reason I ever headed to Pioneer Sq.

[Vinylly]

I used to have a studio in Pioneer Sq., that's when studio rent was reasonable there. Elliot Bay was my favorite place for lunch. It's a shame they've moved. Of course all the artist's who lived and worked there are gone, or going....

[Hemlock140]

If you read today's Times, you will see that all the local merchant complaints have caused the city to reconsider and make slight changes
to soften the blow. Still, Seattle is one of the least shopper-friendly cities, besdies the meters, with the 12% added parking tax at all the parking garages and lots. The 520 bridge toll won't help either. Say what you want about Kemper Freeman but his long time efforts to keep parking free in Bellevue Square and most of downtown will pay off when people stop shopping in Seattle.

Lucky for me I can walk to Pike's Place Market from work and pick up a few things now and then.

[Joe Doer]

I run my own business and everytime I think of trying to raise prices, I remember that it is a bad time to raise costs to my customers during a recession...and believe me, we are still in a recession.

[choliscott]

I hope you actually don't believe the main stream media when they say that the recession is overwith.

Originally Posted by Vinylly

I was listening to the late night news on TV and it seems, if I heard correctly, the merchants in Pioneer Sq. are complaining about the huge increase in parking meters and what it has done for their business. They are reporting thier sales are only about 60% of what it was at this time last year. They are blaming it on the punitive increase in parking meters.
We're suppose to be coming out of a severe ressession and sales should be better then last year at this time. Seems it's the reverse here. It' my opinion that the mayor and the city council have made a huge mistake by making downtown Seattle too expensive to shop. Have they also done what they were thinking about, and that was to extend the parking meter time from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Sunday even???
If they have done this, I see more trouble ahead. Many business like resturants and taverns will be forced to move out of downtown. Can you spell 'GHOST TOWN??' Infact, for a retired couple like ourselves, downtown Seattle is already too expensive to shop. Although Capital Hill is about the closest community to downtown, my wife and I no longer go there. We always shop at University Village, Northgate, or Bellevue Square. Now, with a huge toll going up to cross the bridge to the Eastside, Bellevue Sq. will be crossed off our list. That toll is going to create even more problems ahead, specially for commutors. Seems like the state and local politicians are bent on making this state and this town the most expensive and most undesirable place to live, -specially for retired people.

[danumkc]

I only go shopping downtown because it's within walking distance to work. Although there are many times we would otherwise bring my family downtown, it's just too cost prohibitive to park. So we save those trips for special occassions, like when family comes from out-of-town. If parking was free (or substantially reduced) downtown my family would spend way more time there.

[Blindtom]

Originally Posted by danumkc

I only go shopping downtown because it's within walking distance to work. Although there are many times we would otherwise bring my family downtown, it's just too cost prohibitive to park. So we save those trips for special occassions, like when family comes from out-of-town. If parking was free (or substantially reduced) downtown my family would spend way more time there.

It is not free and it is not easy. If it were free, it would be that much more difficult to drive and park.

[Vinylly]

I think you would see a HUGE increase in revenue just from the increase in business sales, and the tax it would generate if parking meters were eliminated entirely. There would of course be time restrictions, like, 30. min or one and two hour parking limits by the old method of chalking tires. This would eliminate 'parking sqwatters'. All the Seattlites would benifit and we would all be happy, happy peaple. I just heard on the 'David Boze Show' that Seattle will have the most expensive parking meters outside of Chicago.

[seattlerain]

As an Eastsider I still prefer downtown Seattle to Bellevue. The last time I did any shopping in Bellevue was over two years ago...