The Seattle Department of Transportation is scheduled to raise the metered parking in Columbia City to $6.50/hr. I disagree with any increases or additional metered parking spaces because I believe that the rates in our area are too high. I believe that they are unfair, inequitable, and unwanted:

-We are the only neighborhood in South Seattle that has metered parking.

-Our metered parking rates in the afternoon and evening are extremely high compared to other, busier areas, including downtown, Capitol Hill, and Lower Queen Anne and the Seattle Center. These prices are not fair. 

-Many neighborhoods similar in size throughout Seattle do not have metered parking, including Phinney Ridge, Beacon Hill, West Seattle, Georgetown, Wallingford, and Upper Queen Anne.

-SDOT's justification is that having two parking spots available will help business owners, but the owners believe that an increase in parking prices and metering will only discourage their businesses. These prices will add an extra $13-$20 to a nice meal out or an intricate hair style. These prices will discourage customers staying in the neighborhood and "cross pollination" shopping between our small businesses.

-Our neighborhood is not like areas in North Seattle. Our area gentrified quickly pushing out the customer base for our legacy businesses. Adding barriers to bringing the customer base back will only hurt these businesses further at a time when the city says that it's working toward maintaining the very businesses that it's hurting.

-Our local business support groups are fighting these measures, including the Columbia City Business Association, the Columbia City Business Improvement Area, and the Rainier Avenue Business Association.