The East Lansing City Council’s suggestion to raise evening parking prices throughout the city is only a temporary situation to a larger problem. The nickel-and-diming city council says is not a price gouge still has the potential to harm downtown.
As it stands, the 10-cent increase per half hour would only apply to after-eight-p.m. parking, which fortunately has little impact on the majority of downtown.
The proposal’s original form, which would have raised prices on parking for the entire day, was fortunately scrapped after complaints from the local merchant association.
But the evening parking rate plan unfortunately will probably target bars and restaurants that cater to students and other nighttime visitors who frequent the downtown scene.
Officials estimated the increase will add $80,000 a year to the city’s economically weakened coffers - a good amount of cash to put toward essential city services.
The question becomes whether rising parking prices - even if they only target the night crowd - will drive shoppers from the downtown.
If prices continue to rise, East Lansing will find that people they hope to attract to the downtown area will no longer come.
It is becoming easier to go elsewhere for shopping or other late-night needs - especially when parking is free and plentiful only a short distance away.
The Meridian Mall in Okemos already draws people from East Lansing - and attracted Jacobson’s away from its East Lansing store - and the new Eastwood Towne Center at Lake Lansing Road and U.S. 127 in Lansing Township will add further competition to downtown retailers.
Additional development all over the greater Lansing area, providing more shopping, dining and recreational activities, along with free parking, encourages those out for a night - or day - on the town with plenty of affordable opportunities for social entertainment.
East Lansing has already become a more expensive place to live, even with the overall city budget decreasing by 3.6 percent from last year. This year, sewer rates will increase by 4.1 percent and water rates by 9.3 percent.
Budgeting in slow economic times is never an easy prospect for any government body. But charging more to visit the city will do more harm than good in the long run. A busy downtown is a welcome sight to everyone, students and residents alike.
It is all too easy to raise parking costs, but when it becomes too hefty for some to make the trek into town - no matter what time it may be - the city will find itself in a more troublesome spot than a few extra dimes could ever fix.
