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Pay to park in Seaside?
- Thread starter Mightyern
- Start date
Abby Prentiss
Beach Fanatic
The town built on the New Urbanism premise of its inhabitants being able to walk everywhere has a problem: what to do with all the cars?
Over the years since its inception, Seaside has become very popular with not only vacation renters but also tourists and area locals who go there to dine, shop, or just walk around. Billing itself as family friendly, the town has also made a point to offer activities that are open to the public to lure even more people to town to shop and dine. And as the town nears build out in construction, more residences and shops have been added, which has meant more people in the town — and their cars.
Unfortunately, the town was not built to accommodate the volume of traffic. Each rental house typically has enough space to park two cars belonging to the home's renters.
In the town's circle, along County Road 30A, in a small parking area on 30A, and around the Lyceum are the town's only public parking areas.
Seaside Community Development Corporation brought in a consulting firm last November to make recommendations. One of the recommendations was given a one-day trial run Aug. 15 when the town circle was roped off and no cars were allowed to enter except via a $5 fee for valet parking.
Social media sites lit up with indignant posts by area locals who were not accustomed to paying a $5 fee to be able to shop or dine in the town.
Some shop owners seemed accepting of the experiment, while others indicated they were not pleased, but did not want to be quoted.
Bert Summerville, who lives in the town and owns a business there, said she saw a very slow business day during the trial.
"It was raining and we had no people," she said, noting that her arts and crafts store typically sees more business during rainy days.
Lori Smith, Seaside’s Community Development Corporation's new director of public relations and marketing, stressed that the valet parking was simply a test.
"Some merchants were positive," she said. "They know we're trying to work on issues and they've been involved in the process since the beginning, but from both merchant and patron feedback, we feel this is not our best option. We know that now. Everyone's looking for our best option, but we had to test it out."
Smith said a good number of people used the valet service.
"It was convenient for some and we got a lot of positive comments, but there were also those who are used to the way it has always been and didn't like the change," she added.
One test that did go well that day, Smith said, was the off-site employee parking. Employees normally park on Smolian Circle, but that day, they were shuttled to Seaside from a vacant lot on County Road 283 that was leased for the day.
"That test was a positive experience and it freed up almost 200 parking spaces," said Smith.
As for what the next option or test will be, Smith said she isn’t certain.
"We are going to reassess," she said.
Smith said the success of Seaside merchants and the comfort of the town's guests and patrons is the utmost concern for SCDC.
"We are working diligently to research and provide solutions that are in the best interest for all involved and to allow easy access to Seaside," she said. "Our aim is to provide the most positive solution for our merchant businesses as well as offer a warm, inviting experience for our Seaside regulars, local patrons and out-of-town guests. We want to allow as many as possible to continue to enjoy the rich traditions, convenience and availability that the Seaside community has always offered."
Over the years since its inception, Seaside has become very popular with not only vacation renters but also tourists and area locals who go there to dine, shop, or just walk around. Billing itself as family friendly, the town has also made a point to offer activities that are open to the public to lure even more people to town to shop and dine. And as the town nears build out in construction, more residences and shops have been added, which has meant more people in the town — and their cars.
Unfortunately, the town was not built to accommodate the volume of traffic. Each rental house typically has enough space to park two cars belonging to the home's renters.
In the town's circle, along County Road 30A, in a small parking area on 30A, and around the Lyceum are the town's only public parking areas.
Seaside Community Development Corporation brought in a consulting firm last November to make recommendations. One of the recommendations was given a one-day trial run Aug. 15 when the town circle was roped off and no cars were allowed to enter except via a $5 fee for valet parking.
Social media sites lit up with indignant posts by area locals who were not accustomed to paying a $5 fee to be able to shop or dine in the town.
Some shop owners seemed accepting of the experiment, while others indicated they were not pleased, but did not want to be quoted.
Bert Summerville, who lives in the town and owns a business there, said she saw a very slow business day during the trial.
"It was raining and we had no people," she said, noting that her arts and crafts store typically sees more business during rainy days.
Lori Smith, Seaside’s Community Development Corporation's new director of public relations and marketing, stressed that the valet parking was simply a test.
"Some merchants were positive," she said. "They know we're trying to work on issues and they've been involved in the process since the beginning, but from both merchant and patron feedback, we feel this is not our best option. We know that now. Everyone's looking for our best option, but we had to test it out."
Smith said a good number of people used the valet service.
"It was convenient for some and we got a lot of positive comments, but there were also those who are used to the way it has always been and didn't like the change," she added.
One test that did go well that day, Smith said, was the off-site employee parking. Employees normally park on Smolian Circle, but that day, they were shuttled to Seaside from a vacant lot on County Road 283 that was leased for the day.
"That test was a positive experience and it freed up almost 200 parking spaces," said Smith.
As for what the next option or test will be, Smith said she isn’t certain.
"We are going to reassess," she said.
Smith said the success of Seaside merchants and the comfort of the town's guests and patrons is the utmost concern for SCDC.
"We are working diligently to research and provide solutions that are in the best interest for all involved and to allow easy access to Seaside," she said. "Our aim is to provide the most positive solution for our merchant businesses as well as offer a warm, inviting experience for our Seaside regulars, local patrons and out-of-town guests. We want to allow as many as possible to continue to enjoy the rich traditions, convenience and availability that the Seaside community has always offered."
New Urbanism and walkable communities may work where there are not thousands of tourists traveling by car...which is not the case here. I am allllll about walking or biking to anywhere I can safely do so. This is a small tourist town that is busting at the seams. SoWal is indeed too big for its britches. Infrastructure is a serious necessity when you have this many people in a small area. That infrastructure is what we are lacking not just in Seaside, but county wide.
I did have questions about how late night employees (bars & restaurants) plan to get these people BACK to their vehicles if they intend to stop shuttles at 12 a.m. Anyone??
I did have questions about how late night employees (bars & restaurants) plan to get these people BACK to their vehicles if they intend to stop shuttles at 12 a.m. Anyone??
mrscubadog
Beach Crab
The towns of Seaside, Seacrest, and Rosemary are masterplan communities. All roads are private. They can tow your car off of their private property. They cannot give you a ticket. Nor do you have to pay the 1% sales tax, so stop doing that, say no to seaside revenue taxes like parking and sales tax. They can look to associate that car with a homeowner and fine the homeowner. If you pay a ticket, you are foolish.
mrscubadog
Beach Crab
Well not a rocket scientist. These master plan communities are controlled by the Rental company and the POA. They did not do their trial during season because the Rental company wants to try it out on you locals first. They call the shots. The rental company does not work for the shops, the shops work for them.
It is easy, you don't need to spend time in the master plan areas of Seaside and Rosemary with their parking fees and towing of customer cars. Cafe 30A and Cafe Tango is every bit as good as Paridis and Bud and Alleys. Go there. You don't need lacrema and crush, try La Bamba in seagrove. Need a sports bar, try shades or whiskey Bravo. Seriously, stop being a local and start being a townie. Townies go where they are wanted and find the best values. This email has made me hungry, I am going to that irish place in Blue mountain for pizza. So many great places on 30a that have nothing to do with the power brokers of the master plan communities.
mrscubadog
Beach Crab
Agreed, why can't any leadership just take a trip to Crested Bute (my favorite) or any other ski town and see that free public transportation around the clock keeps cars parked at rental homes until it is time to leave. They collect the bed tax, then spend it poorly. Note, I am not an advocate of free because I want it cheap or I don't want to pay. I am an advocate of free because it eliminates complexity and promotes usage. The bed tax generates the revenue, the bus system eliminates the parking issues for all of 30a.
Arkiehawg
Beach Fanatic
Amen!
Lived here almost 10 years now and never have understand the attraction to an overcrowded place like Seaside.... SoWal and 30A is much, much larger than that anti-local turdist trap. Give me Grayton Beach, BMB, Gulf Place, Seagrove, Dune Allen any day of the week over that area.....
Andy A
Beach Fanatic
May I join the group? We moved here permanently in 2003 and have owned since 1991 when Seaside was still a pup. When we first bought here, we looked at Seaside and condos to the East. We ended up in BMB and I"m sure glad we did. I can easily now do without Seaside. A word about urbanism. It is a great concept but it should be able to be developed on all four sides, S, E, N, W. If it isn't it probably will not function too well, so Seaside does not fit the model to a tee.
what i don't like about bmb is the beaches are very narrow and very crowded. And it seems to have the most problems with people claiming its there private beach from retreat to many of the condo's. I swear several of those homes near mike huccabees are going to slide onto the beach
