Owner charging to park in formerly free lot in Saratoga Springs

Parking at the popular 50-car private lot behind the vacant Borders building in downtown Saratoga Springs now costs $2 an hour.

The formerly free destination had been a favorite spot for people who worked nearby or were looking to shop at downtown businesses, but now it will be one of a few lots that charges for parking in a city that has never embraced the practice.

“It’s making life that much more difficult,” Saratoga Springs resident Jack Wallace said. He characterized the decision as particularly problematic during the track season, when parking is even more at a premium and will make the competition for free spots fiercer.

Al Ormsby, of Saratoga Springs, said he won’t pay to use the lot and instead will just park farther from downtown. “I’ll walk three or four blocks,” he said. “Walking is always good for you.”

Ormsby added that the decision to charge for the lot was shocking and noted on Friday, when signs were up advertising the parking, that the lot was uncharacteristically not full. “First time in a long time,” he said.

The decision to charge for parking was made by the owners of the property at Division Street and Broadway, Myron M. Hunt Inc., which oversees the lot and the empty building.

Previously, Borders had been responsible for the parking lot as part of their lease, according to Andrew Hunt of Myron M. Hunt Inc. “[The lot] really is intended to be for the exclusive use of the building,” he said.

Because of the costs associated with owning the property, including liability insurance and property taxes, Hunt said it doesn’t make sense for them to offer free parking to the public and hopes this decision will help them cover their losses while they search for a new tenant. “[It will] generate some revenue to offset the costs of operating it,” he said. “I don’t think it would cover all our expenses.”

Paying for parking will continue for the foreseeable future, said Hunt, who said his company is in the process of finding a new tenant. “We don’t have any commitments at this time, [but] we’re looking to lease the space,” he said. “It’s a challenging environment … but we’re encouraged by a great deal of interest.”

Hunt would not comment on the potential businesses that might be interested in leasing the spot, but the scuttlebutt in the lot on Friday was that food store Trader Joe’s could be coming. He added that a future user might continue to charge for parking.

As for the potential impact to the surrounding businesses, Hunt contended that charging for parking at the lot could encourage turnover, where cars had previously sat all day. He suggested that the spots would now be open for customers.

Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association President Jeff Clark wasn’t so optimistic about the change, as he would only acknowledge that it was a “possibility” that the new dynamic would encourage more turnover.

“It’s a mixed blessing. It’s paid parking … and that’s not necessarily a good thing” Clark said. “[But] It does open up spaces for downtown.”

His main concern was that the charge for parking might deter people from shopping in downtown Saratoga Springs. He was worried that this could end up giving a competitive advantage to shops competing with local stores. “Our merchants compete with the mall and no one ever pays at the mall,” Clark said.

Annette Stewart, an employee at the boutique Frivolous, said the change had already drawn the ire of customers at her store, which is right next to the lot. “Had quite a few people that were complaining,” she said.

The fee wasn’t basically an afterthought to Massachusetts resident Jeanne Barbieri. “It would cost us more in Boston,” she said.

In terms of its reception, Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson said, “As to whether it will be accepted, only time will tell.”

In order to park in the lot you have to use a meter box, which accepts debit cards, credit cards and coins and prints out a time card that goes on your car’s dashboard to identify that you have paid.

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