The Memphis City Council is proposing a parking permit program for specific surrounding streets around Overton Square.  If this passes property owners, living on the designated streets must either opt in to the program by purchasing a $50 a year permit or risk being ticketed if they then park on those streets.  In addition anyone visiting those houses would have to be issued a visitors pass or risk being ticketed as well.  If this is passed each designated block will be asked if they want the program. If 75% or more of the block vote yes then permits will be required to park there. 

Residents around Overton Square should not have to pay to park in front of their own property.  Smaller merchants will also be negatively impacted as their customers will run the risk of being ticketed if they park in a residential area.  Because many small businesses are located next to or within residential areas, they rely on street parking for doing business. Memphis already has an extremely high property tax rate, this permit will only add to the burden of local residents and businesses.  Residents should not have to pay to park in their own neighborhood!  More work needs to be done to educate the public that there is a parking garage located on Monroe Ave.  This garage, as of now, is extremely under used.  Many people are unaware that it even exists.  In my opinion more work should be done to get the general public's parking habits changed before instituting a permit program that could have a far reaching negative impact.

To read the entire proposed ordinance follow this link:   http://goo.gl/IZiN5v

For further information or to voice your opinion, Jim Strickland, City Council Chair, may be reached at the following addresses and numbers:

125 N. Main, Room 514
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 636-6786
Jim.Strickland@memphistn.gov