MONROE, N.C. — Faced with concerns about parking in its downtown area, the city of Monroe is now exploring having drivers purchase their own parking place -- for a fee of up to $1,000 for a six-month period.
The city owns a parking lot at North Hayne and East Crowell streets, and will turn it into a paid lot for a pilot program set to run from Nov. 1 until April of 2025. The 18-space lot is closed to the public as of Oct. 28.
Through the pilot program, businesses or residents could lease up to two spaces in the city-owned lot.
There will not be any holds on parking spaces without a complete application and payment. Payments are about $38 weekly, $166 monthly, or $1,000 for the entire pilot program. Spaces will are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The city said this will provide businesses, building owners, and employees with designated parking spaces to help with the high demand for parking spaces, but some don’t like the idea, saying it will have the opposite effect.
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.