HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – One of the attractions that downtown Holland enjoys over some of its neighboring communities may be changing.
The growth of the Tulip City’s core shopping district, through both its popularity and its developments, has put a crunch on its free parking. This past January, both the Downtown Development Authority Board and the Downtown Parking Board asked the City Council to retain Walker Parking Consultants for a comprehensive study of the downtown parking system. Such a report was completed in July, and Council members will be going over two key recommendations during this evening’s work-study session.
One option would enact three-hour weekday parking time limits on 603 spaces with human enforcement, and the other would have 39 multi-space “pay stations” installed along 7th, 8th and 9th streets, along with Columbia, College, Central and River avenues, and in municipal lots 7B, 7D, 9B, 9D and 9F.
A third option of “parking ambassadors” that emphasizes improved enforcement and education is being recommended by the DDA, the Principal Shopping District and the Parking Advisory Committee, with a review after one year of implementation to see its impact on alleviating parking congestion. Council is not expected to take any vote on the matter until early next year.
