High Street parking crunch frustrates business owners

Commuters, city officials and construction workers will breath a sigh of relief when Groat Road re-opens Tuesday morning.

However, many businesses around the 102nd Avenue Bridge construction site say they're still dealing with a lingering problem — a lack of parking for customers.

"It's become a real problem for us," said David Low, co-owner of Body by Bennett, a gym in the High Street area, the shopping, entertainment and restaurant zone near 124th Street. "In some cases (customers) drive around five or six times and end up leaving in frustration."

Low shares a 56-stall parking lot with the restaurant adjacent to his business. But lately, the spots are almost always full, he said.

He blames a one-two punch for his parking woes: the influx of construction workers looking to park their vehicles and the introduction of permit-only parking in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

"There's been a lack of communication from our standpoint, just not being told what's happening," Low said.

While Body by Bennett has not seen a decrease in customers, Low worries the problem might have long-term effects on his business. He thinks the problems of finding a place to park will make people less likely to visit for workouts.

"We need to look for options, we need to find ways to increase our traffic flow."

Low is not the only one feeling the crunch. Bill Butler, a developer and landlord who owns buildings along 124th Street, said he's heard many complaints about parking troubles.

He said when permit-only parking was introduced in January following a petition from people living in the area, he didn't receive any warning.

"Next thing you know the signs went up," he said. "We were given absolutely no notice."

City officials have said they are trying to encourage a more "urbanized" approach to the High Street area, encouraging more cycling and active transportation to the area, Butler said.

While he supports that goal, he said the city needs to understand that not everyone will leave their car at home.

"For the winter, forget it," he said. "It has to be done so it doesn't impact the efficiency of the arterial road, and the safety of the riders."

Instead, he would like to see better parking enforcement in the area to keep people from taking up parking spots without paying.

Butler plans to meet with city councillors over the next little while to deal with the concerns.

"If people want to keep High Street … this needs to be addressed."