Hendersonville – Hendersonville’s first parking deck opened on Wednesday, March 1.
The same $1.50 hourly rate begins at 4 a.m. Friday, March 3 for the deck and also city-owned losts, which had costly $1 per hour. That is also when a $2 hourly fee begins for previously free parking downtown in on-street spaces along most of mile-long Main Street and on its crossing avenues in the Downtown Municipal Service District (MSD).
The 253-space deck is at 415 N. Church St., on the street’s east (Main Street) side between Fourth and Fifth avenues. It is across Church Street from the Dogwood lot. The stately deck’s red brick blends with nearby buildings and much of the downtown. The $8.2 million project began with site preparation in early 2022, went into high gear in July, and was finished weeks ago ahead of its opening.
The deck’s grand opening and ribbon cutting were on Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Barbara Volk was the featured speaker.
Public opinion on social media has largely favored the deck to add needed parking, but opposes higher charges for parking elsewhere downtown and for parking permits.
Ideas have included those who park to work downtown getting passes for free or at reduced rates. Otherwise, parking fees eat into their earnings. As a relief, the Dogwood lot’s $25 monthly permit rate is a discount for downtown employees.
City officials emphasized that parking fee revenue helps pay for the deck, lot improvements, and developing any further lots in the evolving “comprehensive parking management system” for downtown.
Parking charges are user fees, and an alternative to possibly raising taxes or cutting services to fund the deck. These user fees enable “those taking advantage of prime downtown parking options to fund parking infrastructure for the growing community of Hendersonville,” city spokesperson Allison Justus stated.
Asst. City Mgr. Brian Pahle said that on-street parking downtown helps pay for the deck and more parking, which could be more additional employee lots. “For many years, we have heard from the community through comments, surveys, and studies about the lack of available parking in Downtown Hendersonville. Main Street parking is currently free and convenient, but rarely available. To support our active business district, we need parking to be convenient and available. Metering the premier parking locations and constructing the parking garage is a sustainable solution for our growing community.”
Parking Space Rates
For both the deck and city-owned surface lots, the first hour of parking is free. After that, the rate is $1.50 per hour. In recent years, city lots have cost $1 an hour, with the first hour of parking free. After that, the rate is $1.50 per hour. In recent years, city lots have cost $1 an hour. If the vehicle exceeds the free hour even one minute into the second hour in a downtown lot, the charge is $3, which is for two hours, Justus clarified. The daily limit is $10.
It is no longer free and now costs to park along Main Street from Allen Street to Seventh Avenue and its crossing avenues between Church and King streets in the MSD. Such metered parking starts on March 3. Metered parking is free for the first half-hour, followed by $2 per hour. The charge is $2 for a vehicle parked for just over a half-hour but less than one hour, Justus noted. There is a five-hour limit per parking session.
On-street parking remains free on the avenues east of King Street and west of Church Street.
Meters remain in interior surface lots. his enables motorists without a permit to park there on an hourly basis in spaces not taken by monthly pass holders at that time, Justus noted.
Parking in handicapped spaces is no longer free. City officials note that “handicapped parking spaces will be metered based on best practices and what is allowable in the ordinance.” As always, an authentic handicap placard must be clearly displayed.
City meter payment was not enforced for two months, from Jan. 6 until March 3. City Council gave motorists that break ahead of higher rates. The old parking meters were covered, then replaced by new ones that get activated on Friday.
Enforcement of deck parking is round-the-clock and year-round, including on holidays, Justus noted. In contrast, fees for both city-owned lots and in-street parking are in effect Mondays–Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking there is free at other times, including all day on Sundays and city-observed holidays such as Easter on April 9.
Hendersonville Police Department plans to initially give parkers limited warnings, to help accustom them to the fee system.
Payment Options
Those with a mobile device can pay via the ParkMobile app and should do so when first arriving to avoid getting a citation.
Those without a cell phone can use a credit card to pay when exiting. People can pay while remaining in their cars and driving up to the pay station. Or they can walk to the nearest payment kiosk and pay with cash or a credit card. They need to submit their license plate number to distinguish the vehicle. Each kiosk serves multiple on-street parking spaces.
The motorist needs to type that vehicle’s license plate number when checking in – even during the initial free time, or else the vehicle is subject to a ticket, Justus noted.
The ParkMobile app can also be used to pay for parking on a street or in city-owned lots. Many city payment kiosks are already up. Private lots already have payment stations.
Monthly Permit Rates
A cost-saving option for those who frequently park downtown is to buy a parking permit. The monthly permit is $80 for the new deck; $60 for interior lots such as Azalea, Apple, Maple, and Spruce; and $25 for Dogwood. Dogwood is the sole employee lot. It is so far the only “exterior lot,” being outside of the downtown zone a block to either side of Main Street.
Permit holders use a puck to enter and exit the deck. The vehicle must be parked nose-first, so its license plate number is clearly visible to parking enforcement workers. A permit holder registers that license plate number with iParq, and that number authorizes the vehicle to park on the deck or in a designated lot. The plate number is used instead of hanging permit tags by the rearview mirror or elsewhere in the vehicle.
Each motorist’s account for a single permit can register one or two vehicles, not more. But only one of the vehicles at a time can park with the permit.
Permit registrations for the Dogwood lot were awarded first-come, first-served from requests that began last November, Justus noted. “The majority of registrants are business owners, employees, and downtown residents.” Justus said that any person can get on the waiting list for parking lot permits, starting Thursday, March 2. They can do so online, via https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/parking/parking-permits.
The new city parking map is online at www.hvlnc.gov/parking. Check www.hendersonvillenc.gov/parking for more information about city parking.