PARKING PROPOSAL

The West Loop Gate Community Organization, a City of Chicago Delegate Organization (the "WLGCO"), has introduced certain proposed changes to the current parking situation in the West Loop (for purposes of this proposal, the affected area will be, in general, West of Halsted, East of Ashland, South of Randolph and North of the Eisenhower and this general area is referred to as the "West Loop"). The following is a summary of the WLGCO's proposal:

I. INTRODUCTION

The WLGCO parking proposal originated with the observation that many of the parking difficulties experiences by the community, especially, Monday through Friday during the business day, are the mis-use the on-street parking in the area by so-called "daytrippers." Daytrippers are defined as commuters who drive and park, usually for free, in the community and then continue their commute to other parts of the City, generally to the Loop or its environs. Such use of the available on-street parking creates the current situation: legitimate (i.e., non-daytrippers) visitors to the West Loop must compete for the metered and free parking spaces that remain after the morning rush brings in the daytrippers. This situation forces many to park illegally and, in some instances, dangerously. The situation also unnecessarily increases traffic congestion in the West Loop, especially during the morning and afternoon rush periods.

The WLGCO recognizes that West Loop residents require on-street parking for themselves and their guests, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WLGCO also recognizes the needs of West Loop businesses, both commercial and retail, for on-street parking for their employees, customers and others. The WLGCO's goal was to propose new regulation of what is currently, by and large, unregulated on-street parking, which regulation would be balanced between the needs of residents, business owners and retail enterprises within the West Loop. Accordingly, the proposal strives to strike a reasonable balance between both groups. The WLGCO also recognizes that parking congestion can be expected to increase, as the residential population continues to grow and as new retail enterprises open in the community.

II. THE PROPOSAL

The WLGCO proposal actually consists of two proposals or parts. The first is the identification of what are, essentially, commercial or retail zones and the extension of metered parking in those zones. With the exceptions described, those zones are found on Washington, Madison, Monroe, Adams, Jackson and Van Buren Streets. Many of these streets already have metered parking, so the WLGCO proposal is to extend meters West, in some cases to Ashland. The exceptions to metered areas on these streets would be primarily residential areas, where little commercial or retail activity now exists, or is expected in the future to exist. The rationale behind this part of the proposal stems from the recognition that most of these streets have either morning or evening parking prohibitions, which are expected to remain. Specifically and as an example, parking on Madison Street is prohibited on the South side before 9:00 a.m. and, on the North side, between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. As a result, streets with these types of restrictions are not conducive to residential parking, so the introduction of meters is expected to have minimal impact on area residents. However, the increase in the amount of short-term parking in areas where retail enterprises are, or will be, located, should be of benefit to those businesses.

The second part of the WLGCO proposal is the introduction by the Aldermen of legislation that would allow area residents to be eligible for residential permit parking. Currently, residential permit parking is only available in areas zoned residential; much of the West Loop is not so zoned, but is, instead zoned to permit residential, industrial, commercial and retail activities to take place literally side by side. The specific proposal would be to permit area residents to request residential permit parking on the North-South streets in the West Loop. The exact location of the permit parking would need to be coordinated with current parking regulations. For example, if a North-South street is currently metered, it may be more appropriate, considering the buildings located on that street, to maintain the meters.

The WLGCO proposal also contemplates that residential permit parking would be divided into 4 roughly zones, rather that on a street by street basis. The WLGCO believes these zones are necessary due to the diverse nature of the West Loop. Due to City-wide prohibitions on parking in areas adjacent to schools, certain government buildings, police stations, firehouses and other locations with similar activities, street-by-street permit parking would discriminate against residents who live in buildings located near these areas. Accordingly, the WLGCO proposal would permit anyone who obtains a residential permit for the zone in which they reside, to park in any part of the applicable zone.

The rationale for proposing residential permit parking is as follows: The North-South streets, with certain exceptions, are more commonly residential in use, so allocating those areas to residents during weekday business areas is expected to have minimal impact on area businesses. Frankly, it is unlikely that customers to area businesses are able to park on those streets currently, due to the number of daytrippers.

Additionally, in some cases, residents need on-street parking on a 24/7 basis; therefore, meters on these streets would not be appropriate. Permit parking would deny daytrippers the ability to park in the affected area, but ensure that parking would be available for area residents. It must be noted that, under existing permit parking legislation, area residents must, by a two-thirds majority, request the introduction of permit parking in their area. If the WLGCO proposal is adopted, and permit parking is not requested, demand for the dwindling non-regulated parking spaces is likely to greatly increase.

Another aspect of the WLGCO proposal relates to enforcement. Under the proposal, meters would be enforced from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. throughout the entire area, Monday through Friday. WLGCO proposes that meters not be enforced on weekends or after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Residential permit parking would be enforced from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with no enforcement on weekday evenings or on weekends. The proposed hours of regulation would allow area residents and their guests to park in metered areas in the evening, overnight and on weekends (subject to other existing regulations), thereby increasing the amount of parking near retail/residential buildings in the commercial zones. In addition, the hours of enforcement of residential permit parking is expected to increase freedom of movement by area residents and visitors to the West Loop in the evenings and on weekends.

III SUMMARY

Regulation of parking in the West Loop is a complicated matter, due to the diverse character of the areas and the many different activities that take place each day. The WLGCO proposal is a fair, balanced and reasonable attempt to bring order to the currently chaotic situation, for the good of all of us with any interest in the community. Certainly, the WLGCO proposal will introduce burdens for many of us, and perhaps some will bear greater burdens than others. However, in view of the continued growth in the West Loop, which will only increase demand for on-street parking, the need to attract retail businesses to the area for the good of our residents, and the desire to improve the quality of life of all concerned; the WLGCO believes all those burdens will prove to be minor when compared to the benefit obtained. Much work remains, and comments are invited and appreciated.

E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format