NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.
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We, the undersigned merchants of New Canaan, are writing to respectfully urge you [the Town Council] not to fund the expansion of paid parking to Main Street.
Since the onset of the initiative on Elm Street, we have experienced a noticeable decline in foot traffic, accompanied by a corresponding drop in sales compared to prior years. As business owners who are present on this street every day, across all seasons, we witness firsthand how these changes affect customer behavior and the vitality of our downtown village.
We do not need outside interpretation to understand the cause of this downturn. Our lived experience and daily observations make it clear that the current parking system is discouraging shoppers and negatively impacting our businesses, and by extension the community.
We ask that what has occurred on Elm Street not be extended to Main Street. Please take our experience into serious consideration and hear the concerns of the merchants most directly affected.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Respectfully,
Americana Memories – Steve Melilo
Brad and Vandy Reh Fine Estate Jewelry – Brad & Vandy Reh
Claudette – Claudette Rothman
Consider the Cook – Dina Clason/Patricia Rafalski
Cuda Salon – Kim Cuda
Found – Cristine Keane
Francos Wine Merchants – Carl Franco
Laurant Ranch – Nancy Georgs
Manfredi Jewels – Bianca Chiappelloni
More ‘n More – Donna Jollin
New Canaan Chicken – Militza Aquino
New Canaan Healthfare – Margaret & Jim Wenzel
New Canaan Music – Phil Williams
Odesmith & Richards – Helen Richards
Saison Sucrées – Elizabeth Srivastava
Shoes ‘n More – Leslie Zeitlen
Spice & Tea Exchange – Pam & John Robinson
Splash of Pink – Wendy Probert
Taylors Luggage Inc. – Wendy Diamond
That Personal Touch – Mitch & Lynn Van der Els
The Whitney Shop – Chip & Karen Stinchfield
Togs – Gwen Iavovo
Wave – Heather Satin
[Note : A copy of this letter was sent to the Town Council ahead of its vote to approve $90,000 to expand paid parking to Main Street.]
My experience has been that finding a parking spot on the street is as difficult as it ever was, so is there something else going on? Is there less turnover of spots?
So glad! I hope the town does not expand the parking meters! I was just with a group from Westport last night and they were talking about how terrible it was for New Canaan, it is keeping shoppers away for sure!
As I outlined from the start, based on queuing theory and human nature this idea was worse then Fulton’s Foley from the start. Once again our autocratic town executive branch forced this endeavor upon the retailers and fellow New Canaanites despite overwhelming opposition. As Ronald Reagan told President Gorbachev: “Mr Gorbachev take down that wall” (Berlin Wall). New Canaan’s retailers and citizens are telling our Town executive: “ Selectman Carlson take down those Kiosks!”
Perhaps a referendum putting the choice to the electorate is warranted.
I wonder if the revenue from the parking meters is enough to warrant the damage they pose to the downtown businesses. Those businesses are having to compete with businesses in other towns that have free parking lots right in front of them, so I’d be interested in making all parking in New Canaan free.
I would like to repeat my earlier recommendation which no one at town hall has shown willingness to act upon. Let’s please implement what Norwalk does: THE FIRST 15 MINUTES AT METERED STREET PARKING IS FREE. Yes, you still have to enter your plate number in the app or at the kiosk but you will have time to pick up a coffee, bunch of flowers, bottle of wine, pair of socks etc. without having to pay for parking. Could we at least try this for a few months and see if it helps our merchants.
Rob Fryer
Well written Carl. I have yet to talk to a shopper who has had a positive response. Most shoppers coming into our store Pennyweights from out of town have no idea about the parking change. There is an old adage in retail that is “No barriers to buying”. This means if it’s sunny and warm open the door, accept all forms of payment and make it convenient for people to come into your place of business. In Norwalk they have similar parking meters that have an option for 15 minutes free. Why not have the same system but give them 30 minutes free. The purpose for the parking I was told was to stop employees moving their cars every 2 hours and taking all the spaces. With the new system you will have their license plate and it would prevent it. The merchants have spoken and clearly aren’t benefiting from the change.
Please don’t wish your ills on Main St businesses. Main St. Businesses are already hurting as demonstrated by current and former vacancies.
If ‘kiosk parking’ is hurting Elm St., would Main St. Be immune?
As a building owner on Main, crosswalks and loading zones have already severely limited th parking spaces.
I like the 15-minutes free idea but the main issue is that the town’s plan sounds sensible on paper but fails in practice. The goal of paid parking closer to the businesses was to cycle through more shoppers. On paper, it should yield results.
Also, the alternate parking spots are not necessarily well known to shoppers. Perhaps they need some ads around Main and Elm: a simplified map with a ‘You Are Here’ and the parking spots marked with a P.