Posted on April - 25 - 2010

Center City Commission wants to spend $120,000 to promote Downtown parking

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The Center City Commission wants John Q. Memphian to know Downtown has plenty of convenient, affordable parking: more than 40,000 spaces between the Medical Center and the river, including thousands in garages.

But lack of adequate parking is a recurring complaint heard by Downtown development officials as they attempt to promote new retail, office and residential development.

To close the gap between public perception and reality, the commission is looking at spending $120,000 on a marketing campaign that would include creation of a smart phone application to help people find parking.

The Downtown Parking Authority voted today to back a budget proposal that includes Center City’s first marketing push specifically aimed at lifting awareness of parking possibilities. The budget is subject to City Council and County Commission approval.

“It is an advertising campaign to improve the public perception of parking Downtown,” said Jim Street, senior vice president of finance and administration.

Officials said an app could drive traffic to properties run by the authority, a Center City arm that controls nearly 3,000 spaces including the 1,600-space 250 Peabody Place garage.

Someone headed to a Downtown restaurant or the Orpheum could use the app to get directions to the Parking Authority garage nearest to their destination, president Jeff Sanford said.

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