Loss of free parking less of worries for downtown, OEV businesses

Businesses in downtown London and Old East Village, which benefited from free parking during the pandemic, would welcome a partial extension of the program, but argue more needs to be done to support them.

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Several business owners in both neighborhoods said any barrier lifted for people to access their business is great, but that promotion of the free-parking campaign available on the HonkMobile app was lacking, and underlying issues still keep potential customers away.

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“This stretch here in particular, it’s kind of tough; people just don’t want to stop anyways,” said Jason Recker, owner of Recker Art on Dundas Street between English and Ontario streets. “We’ve got to take down all the barriers as much as possible, getting people to come downtown. There’s already so much going against it.”

The city promotion, which offered two hours of free parking on city streets or city-owned lots in the downtown and Old East Village, was introduced in May 2021 and ended Sunday. It was intended as a support to businesses during the pandemic, but also through busy construction seasons.

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The city estimates it lost $2.6 million in parking revenue from the promotion between its introduction to the end of 2023.

Barbara Maly, executive director of Downtown London, said the program was beneficial to businesses as customers were wary of pandemic restrictions and major construction operations.

“This was certainly helpful from an economic development perspective for our businesses in encouraging and making sure that their bosses had an enjoyable experience while they were downtown,” she said.

One person all too familiar with the struggles of downtown is Shayna Patterson, co-owner of what is now Rebel Kombucha, formerly Rebel Remedy. The business had to shutter its takeout restaurant and bodega in December due to extensive construction cutting off foot traffic and a lack of office workers.

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She said the free parking program was “majorly valuable,” mostly for those who already lived or worked downtown. However, many did not know about the program or struggled to use the Honk app.

“There aren’t many (city spaces) to begin with, but not everyone has a cellphone with an app, and they’re not about to download an app on the sidewalk confused about how to even use it and load in all their banking information on the street,” she said.

Recker said he was vaguely aware of the promotion, but was caught off guard by its sudden disappearance.

Malcolm Watson, owner of the Old East Exchange Thrift Store, said he was never aware of the program at all until it ended.

Jonathon Bancroft-Snell, owner of Jonathon’s Gallery, estimated only one of every 50 people who walked in were aware of free parking.

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“It was a program that had excellent intent, but with intent, you also have to have knowledge, and I would say that the majority of people did not have knowledge of the program,” Bancroft-Snell said.

Council voted Tuesday to have city staff study reintroducing a one-hour on-street free parking promotion for the remainder of the year, and a pilot program to offer reduced prices at two neighboring Old East Village parking lots until the end of September. Business owners were supportive of the suggestion, saying typical visits are usually less than an hour anyway.

“If that’s a happy medium, then I’m OK with that. But, having nothing I think is really short-sighted of the city until things start turning around,” Recker said.

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For downtown, both Patterson and Bancroft-Snell say any break from the major construction that’s snarled the core for several years would be a reprieve, especially since businesses already are within a short distance.

Kevin Morrison, general manager of the Old East Village business improvement area, said the city likely did not lose much money from the program because city-owned lots at 434 Elizabeth St. and 641 Queens Ave. often have many empty spaces.

The association is looking to work with businesses to open up and promote more free parking in the area, and use $500,000 the city granted in October to help improve signage, security and cleaning in a neighborhood bearing the brunt of the homelessness crisis, he said.

“Our business owners, our business community and our residential neighborhood within the village are very resilient,” Morrison said.

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@jackmoulton65

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