This is a conceptual idea. 

As dedicated enthusiasts of downtown Birmingham, we find it deeply personal to continually strive for its improvement and evolution. One way to ensure a thriving future is by transforming our current on-street parking from paid parallel to free angled on 19th - 24th street North (2nd Ave N). By doing so, we anticipate a significant positive impact on parking availability, with the potential to double the number of parking spaces.  
 
Aside from increasing capacity, such a change would also alleviate the common issue of towing, an inconvenience that has deterred people from visiting the downtown area. By providing more accessible and free parking, we believe that a larger influx of crowds would be encouraged to frequent the businesses downtown, thus fueling the local economy. According to the American Planning Association, ''Reformatting parking has been found to increase the attraction of downtown areas by as much as 20%.'' 

The International Parking and Mobility Institute estimates that each on-street parking spot adds $20,000 in revenue to local economies. Free and plentiful parking can certainly be a big draw in attracting customers to small businesses, while limited downtown parking can push people towards big box retail. 

Moreover, this transformation could lead toward making our Birmingham downtown a more convenient and welcoming place. There are variations of this idea that could be considered too, if viable. Positive experiences in downtown are integral to the city's overall appeal and vibrancy, and it's about time we took strides towards achieving this goal.  
  
We urge our fellow citizens and the city council to support this change and help us create a better Birmingham. Please sign this petition and make your voice heard. 

See below to learn more:
A Conceptual Future of 2nd Ave North - Video