Rachel Robie describes finding a parking space near her apartment like a game, but she doesn’t find it fun at all.
“You play musical chairs with your cars,” said Robie, 49. “When you live here and you can’t even park in front of your own home, that’s a problem.”
Robie lives at the north end of Rumford Street, near Washington Street and the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Her building has a total of five residents, but just two off-street parking spots. Spaces on the surrounding streets are free but subject to a mash-up of parking regulations – no parking on one side, time limits, resident parking only, no rules at all. Downtown employees, residents, students and visitors compete for the same spaces.
But changes could be coming for Robie’s neighborhood and others in Concord.
Concord’s parking fund was designed to sustain itself on meter fees, fines and leases. But that fund is on track to end fiscal year 2017 in the red by $130,000. With the help of a consultant, the city administration has proposed a package of sweeping changes to the parking system, including rate increases, longer hours of enforcement and paid spaces on Saturdays.
Those recommendations would also add more than 300 meters on downtown side streets, where the proposed rate is $1.25 per hour. If adopted, drivers would need to pay on streets like Washington Street and White Street near UNH Law, as well as around the federal and superior courthouses. The city would also newly charge for spaces on South Main Street, North and South State streets, Storrs Street and Wall Street. Those spaces would be charged Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Matt Walsh, the city’s director of redevelopment, downtown services and special projects, said meters could both turn over those parking spots and generate revenue at the same time.
“Let’s find ways to better manage the parking for all users,” he said. “So we thought the best way to do that would be, go ahead and meter those areas, given the high usage.”
But many of those areas are single- or multi-family homes. So Walsh also suggested a permit system for people who live nearby.
“We were going into some of the residential neighborhoods,” Walsh said. “That’s why there’s a more robust residential permit program that’s recommended. They go hand in hand.”
A permit system already exists on about four short blocks near the law school and White Park. But those people pay just $5 for their permits, and the money is refunded when that person no longer needs it. Walsh told the parking committee last week he has no idea how many permits the city has even issued. He proposed a $50 annual permit per vehicle, with a limit of one per household.
The holder would be exempt from meter fees and time limits; the change would apply to neighborhood streets as far south as Thompson Street and as far north as Beacon Street.
Robie, for one, is skeptical. As the manager of the Washington Street Cafe, she worried a meter would deter customers who just want to make a quick stop. She also didn’t believe a permit system would work unless it designated passes for certain streets, rather than a general area. But she wants to see changes in the neighborhood where she lives and works.
“Where do your guests park?” Robie said. “I hope that they come up with something.”
Michael Staton, 26, is one of the few who already has a residential pass. He lives on Blanchard Street, just behind the law school. Enforcement only takes place Monday through Friday during business hours, he said, so the permits are less effective on weekends and evenings.
But patrols do happen, he added.
“Even I’ve gotten ticketed for not having it in my window,” Staton said.
On South Street, Jason Massa has a two-car driveway for his single-family home. He said he wouldn’t be thrilled about buying a permit to park in front of his own home, though.
“I’d rather have ‘em hide it in my taxes so I wouldn’t know about it,” Massa, 48, said.
He lives close enough to downtown to walk or bike during warmer months. During the winter, Massa drives to the garage next to the Concord Family YMCA to attend classes. There, rates could increase from 50 cents an hour to 75. But closer to Main Street, a couple bucks to park during yoga seemed normal for an urban area.
“I guess we’re headed in the direction of a grown-up city,” he said.
The proposed changes are subject to review and comment by the parking committee, and then they will need final approval from the Concord city council. That process will likely take months and will involve public input.
The entire package of changes is available on the parking department’s webpage of the city website. For more information, visit concordnh.gov.
Crews are off today for the July 4 holiday, but the next two weeks will see no shortage of work on Main Street.
In coming days, workers will be replacing water valves to several buildings on the west side of South Main Street. These buildings will be without water for 20 to 30 minutes during that process. Also this week, benches, crosswalk pavers and trash and recycling bins will be installed on the east side of the street.
Theatre Street will be closed Thursday and Friday. A crosswalk will be under construction, and a crew will be digging trenches and installing conduit for utilities. July 18 is the target date for work to switch to the west side of the street.
For more information or to sign up for regular email updates about the downtown construction, visit concordnh.gov.
City offices and the Concord Public Library will be closed today for the July 4 holiday.
Curbside pickup for trash and recycling will also be delayed one day through Saturday. Today’s routes will be picked up Tuesday, for example.
Concord’s annual Independence Day celebration will be held this evening at Memorial Field. Food vendors and a live radio broadcast will begin at 5, and a concert from the Never’s Band is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. The fireworks will begin at dusk, likely about 9:20 p.m.
The rain date is July 5.
(Megan Doyle can be reached at 369-3321, mdoyle@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @megan_e_doyle.)