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Downtown Saline features 28 free on-street parking spaces. An additional 356 spaces are available in five public lots.
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Is there a parking problem in downtown Saline? It depends on who you ask.
Downtown Saline offers more than 700 parking spaces, according to a tally by city development director Art Trapp. Of these, 42 are all-day public spots, about 200 are limited time spaces, 31 are marked for handicapped parking and 28 are free, on-street spaces.
Another 356 spaces are in lots that offer private parking for employees or customers, such as the lots at city hall and downtown banks and churches. These lots are only full for limited times and, Trapp said, are options for downtown parking.
The remaining 106 are in private lots for apartment residents and smaller businesses.
So, for someone pulling up to grab a quick coffee or looking to park to shop, meet an appointment or hit one of the downtown restaurants or bars, there should be plenty of options.
Tell that to a busy, caffeine-craving mother with a van full of children who would like to leave the little darlings belted in while dashing in for a latte. Or try assuring an elderly couple there will be a spot within just a few steps of the restaurant where they plan to dine.
The fact is that Saline has a growing commercial district with, according to the numbers, plenty of parking. But some merchants and residents feel that the short-term spots are being abused, enforcement is lacking and perhaps that visitors and even city residents aren't aware of their options.
True, many drivers hope for -- and maybe even circle the block a few times waiting for -- a spot exactly in front of the door of the place they are going. But perhaps these shoppers, diners and visitors need to be flexible and better educated about their downtown public parking option.
Where to Turn
Did you know there are five public lots and that Trapp has labeled them each with a color, soon to be found on new city directional signs?
Here's a quick lesson you can clip and tape on your dashboard:
lLot 1 is the Red Lot and is next to Emmett's, behind Dan's Downtown Tavern, with entrances off South Ann Arbor Street and Hall Street. There are 40 spaces there.
lLot 2 is the Green Lot with 61 spaces and is behind Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack.
Lot 3 is the Orange Lot with 34 spots and is shadowed by the water tower, off West Henry Street, across from the entrance to the Green Lot. This is lot may be one of the best kept on parade days.
Lot 4r is the Yellow Lot with 71 spaces, located next to Little Caesars and plays host to the Saline Farmers' Market every year.
Lot 5 is the Blue Lot and is sandwiched behind The Reporter office, next to the Key Bank ATM, off West McKay, with 20 all-day spaces.
Former City Council Trustee Mary Hess is concerned about the parking situation and regularly brings those concerns to the council. During the last few months, she has spoken twice asking elected officials and police to pay attention to parking issues near the four corners downtown.
"This is Business 101," she said. "Good parking is crucial to a successful downtown. Nobody is enforcing short-term parking now and you shouldn't depend on shop owners to police these spots."
In the not-so-distant past, Saline's police budget included a parking enforcement position. Now, said Deputy Police Chief Jack Ceo, it's up to the officer on duty to be alert for parking problems that create a threat to safety and to issue tickets for parking in a tow-away zone or in front of a fire hydrant.
"A normal patrol officer is usually engaged in other activities, issuing moving violations, report taking, crash investigations, etc," Ceo said. "We don't ask them to mark tires because we simply don't believe that it is an effective use of a sworn officer's time to have them enforce time limits in city parking lots."
Survey Says...
At a meeting of the Downtown Merchants' Association last month, the consensus was that a parking problem doesn't exist downtown.
"We wish we had the problem of too many customers," said Vintner's Cellar owner John Olsen.
The Saline Reporter conducted a survey of 20 businesses downtown Saline to help define the parking issue. Owners and managers answered anonymously, identifying themselves by the city block where their business is located.
The majority said fewer than three customers had commented on problematic parking during the last month and that the number of empty storefronts was the real reason people weren't shopping downtown.
"Compared to surrounding downtowns, our parking is very good, and it's free," noted one merchant surveyed.
Six business owners, however, reported that 10 to 25 customers had complained about parking and some said they lost business because of the inconvenience caused by a full lot.
"Business owners let their employees park in the lot and they themselves park there. That occupies up to two-thirds of the spaces," wrote a manager, referring to Lot 1 (red). "I have had at least five customers a day complain about lack of parking and have had a few call to say they won't be in because they can't find parking."
The majority of the complaints came from businesses located on the north side of East Michigan Avenue and along North Ann Arbor Street, where most customers rely on finding a space in Lot 1 and probably don't consider looking in Lot 5 along West McKay.
While there's a plethora of parking in Lots 2 and 3, behind Mac's and under the water tower, one shop owner said customers won't cross Michigan Avenue to get to the north side.
There was one reported incident recently of a pedestrian being struck by a car at the main intersection downtown.
Countdown signals were installed last summer by the Michigan Department of Transportation to help pedestrians safely cross busy Michigan Avenue. In addition, the city of Saline plans to erect way-finding signs to better designate parking lots.
"The city is spending a lot of money on urban planning consultants. There are studies for everything. I think we should ask where parking enforcement falls into the priorities," Hess said.
Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.
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