ATLANTA — A recent greenlight from the Atlanta City Council to convert a free parking lot behind a row of businesses on Euclid Avenue into paid parking is drawing some ire from community members.
For decades, a little-known parking lot behind a busy stretch of businesses in Little Five Points has been free for workers and regulars, but that’s about to change.
“We’re competing with other neighborhoods that have free parking. Or even Ponce City Market. Their parking is like $10 for three hours and $15 for 24 hours. They’re charging $20 to $25 around here for parking," said Kelly Stocks, president of the Little Five Points Business Association.
On Monday, Atlanta’s City Council approved the “Euclid Avenue Parking Plan,” which will allow the Park Place Parking Company to manage the 45-space lot for the next three years at a fee yet to be determined.
Business owners like Cedric Mahaffey said making the lot paid might drive away customers.
“If it's not a user-friendly situation, someone will choose to go elsewhere. Lately we’ve been having so many other surrounding areas to develop that we didn’t used to have worry about losing our patrons to years ago," Mahaffey said.
So far, there is no timetable for when the change to the last free parking lot in this bustling neighborhood will take effect or how much it will cost.