(I
P233 12
Wednesday, October 31, 1979
daily nebraskan
i
Centrum parking garage
changes parking patterns
By Patti Gallagher
Convenience and cost seem to be the
two appealing factors of the Lincoln down,
town Centrum parking garage, according
to its users, manager and competition.
. Centrum, the largest parking complex in
Lincoln, is the least expensive and is city,
owned.
The Centrum oarkins earage. which
! l .,1
however, that "our ousincss im ncu
up " He said that because of the increased
need for parking due to Uncoln Center
people are coming uuwu
renovation,
Arrordins to Butcher, in addition to the
289 monthly renters that use the Centrum
run
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through each day, paying the hourly rate.
Butcher added that about 400 to 500
rU Amno the over.
opened November 15, 1978 has a 1,039 Z&SS&
soace capacity, according to Tom Butcher, ... . . f u. nMuH at 750.
manager of the garage. It operates 24 hours Butchef said that Centrum parking
a day, with supervision from 7 am. to 10 e fed a construction budget of $4.6
P-"1, . , .i . million set by the city. He said that the
$252fathcsa,n$20 "Sf4. comp.eie project cost about $42 million.
space. Most lots in Lincoln charge compar
able rates, although one privately owned
operation had a $35 monthly fee.
The real savings of using the Centrum
facility, according to individual lot owners
throughout the city, is the hourly rate
charged by the Centrum.
Centrum hourly parking is 25 cents,
while lots around the city charge from 35
to 50 cents hourly. Butcher said' that "the
rate of hourly parking remains a point of
friction" with other lots.
Butcher said that "we have had
complaints on and off from other parking usae f he Wfmg.
BUTCHER SAID daily revenue would
have to be about $1,000 to meet all ex
penses, including the payment of 20-year
bonds.
"Some days we make it, some days we
are over, and some days under." he said.
Butcher also said that the first year of
operation did not meet expenses but, ,4we
are now meeting first year projections." He
said that Centrum shopping complex V
opening has increased the parking business
and he expects to see a steady increase in
144 North 14th
nils t c -
1 rrA- U
lot owners, especially about the early bird
parking.
EARLY BIRD PARKING rates were in
effect after trie garage opened until the
Centrum shopping complex opened about
three weeks ago. On the plan, driver was
charged only $1, if entering before 9:30 v
a jn. and exiting after 6:00 pjn.
Butcher said the early bird policy is
being studied for reinstatement.
According to Larry Isaacson, owner of
Towne Parking, a 200 -capacity lot on
"M" St., the early bird parking at the
Centrum had "a lot of affect" on his bus
iness. He said "It's tough to compete with "
the city."
Isaacson, whose lot was the only priv
ately owned operation contacted by the
Daily Nebraskan, said he has lost 20 per-
Butcher . said that eventually the
Centrum is going to phase out monthly
parking. He said the "city's goal was to
provide low cost hourly parking," and that
monthly parking will be eliminated in four
to eight years.
The Centrum parking garage has about
100 people on a waiting list for monthly
parking, Butcher said. It will be next
spring before those requests can be filled,
he added.
Drivers using the Centrum parking on
Monday were informally polled and,
seemed to agree that price and convenience
were the attractions of the facility .
Lincoln businessman, Jim Shonka, said
that before the Centrum was built, he used
to try to park in the street, and he "cussed
and swore a lot," Shonka said he had many'
clients in the Centrum and surrounding
areas and found the garage "cheap, useful,
cent of his business since the opening of and very convenient." He said he thinks
1
the Centrum parking facility. Towne Park
mg has a monthly rate of $35 .; -
The remainder of lots contacted are
members of Park and Shop, which is
owned by 100 merchant participants. The
Merchants pay a fee to be a Park and Shop
member and, in turn, supply their custom
ers with a stamped ticket to use any Park
and Shop lot in downtown , Lincoln.
A Brandeis parking lot attendant said,
people are tired of going out to Gateway
Shopping Center, 61st and "O" streets, and
therefore, the Centrum is . successful.
Linda Morrissy, an east Lincoln res
ident, said she generally goes to Gateway,
but thinks- the Centrum is "fantastic." She
said the enclosed parking and shopping
area will be the biggest asset during the
winter months.
Continued on Page 19
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