Bradford Regional Strategy

 Parking is critical to development of the downtown area. Referring to the parking map of Bradford, it looks like there is a lot of parking, but most of it is either private, or too far from downtown.

A centrally located parking garage would be the best solution in my opinion. It might be worth an effort between the City and OECD. Construct it on City property and lease it to a private operator.  

 I have to say that with the exception of the lunch hour and dinner hours, it seems every time I drive down Main Street, there's tons of parking. Until very recently, I was a stay-at-home mom, and was downtown a lot during the day. Like I said, plentiful parking. People would have to walk places from a centrally-located parking garage, too. On other parts of the site, people are saying they would like to see more of a "cute," gentrified downtown with more shops and restaurants. I know I park a lot further away from things when I visit Ellicottville, Corning, N.Y., or State College.

Professional mom:

...it seems every time I drive down Main Street, there's tons of parking...

I agree with you. I rarely have a problem finding a parking space on Main Street. Do you think this is because of the parking meters?

If the parking meters were  removed, do you think it would help attract shoppers downtown, or would the spaces be taken by the people who live and work downtown? 

I think it would be a double edge sword. I think it would stimulate a little more business downtown but if the meters where removed, there would be less parking spaces available when you need one so that itself could cause people to stay away.

I think before the decision is made to take them out they should do a trial run, say a month and see what happens. They could put a plastic bag over them so people know they don't have to pay.

I would reccommend that we forgo a meter enforcement officer in the city budget for an additional code enforcement officer...the revenue that would be gained in people investing in a "cleaned up" Bradford would equal or out way any funds gained in our parking meters.