Iorio relieves businesses: too little, too late?
Visiting Ybor for the holidays? Parking is free!
During the holiday season, Ybor visitors can expect free parking on the streets and lots (parking meters will not be enforced). This is in response to many businesses’ pleas for help who have been experiencing a slump over the past few months. Many argue that retail is hurt from a stringent parking meter enforcement that discourages visitors to the district.
It is not the first time that the city has cut back on the strictness of its parking regulation. Earlier in the year, in an attempt to "be nicer" to morning and afternoon Ybor visitors, the city adopted a warning system, giving first-time violators a warning instead of a citation.
But after all these generous concessions, one has to ask: is it really fair to tax a district that has been struggling for months, if not years? Why does the city discourage visitors to the district by charging for parking when it should be doing everything possible to encourage it? The answer is money (of course). The city will lose approximately $21,000 in revenue during this holiday alone.
Noah
December 4th, 2007 at 7:20 amI suppose some relief is better than nothing at all.
sam
December 5th, 2007 at 5:31 amVisitors to Tampa don’t know Ybor is here, so what difference does parking make? Tampa does not value or promote it’s historic district.
Sam
Noah
December 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pmThat’s a valid point Sam. Do you have any thoughts on how we can help the city strengthen its awareness and support of Ybor as a historic district?
Maureen Quinlan
December 7th, 2007 at 11:26 amI visited Ybor City yesterday for the first time, in a long time, during the day. It was welcomed that the parking was free - as an interested investor in the area - I too would welcome to hear thoughts on how to help the city strengthen its awareness and support for Ybor as a historic district.
There is such magic there - it seems that past efforts to increase usage of Ybor have not proved successful. My hope is to bring a few quality handwork jobs to Ybor - my company makes high-end handmade children’s clothing. I know going into any transaction in Ybor that we will need to look at the increase in real estate value as the money making piece - I do not anticipate that our retail presence there will be profitable.
Looking forward to meeting more Yborists soon!
Maureen
Jose
December 7th, 2007 at 5:49 pmThe city (through the Ybor City Development Corporation) has a marketing program paid for by CRA funds (tax money collected from Ybor residents and businesses). You might have seen the adds driving down I-275. They are pretty, but are they effective?
Ybor has a huge image problem due to bad press from nightclub-related crime. This image problem has had an effect on the retail and services community. HYNCA is working to change all of this by supporting laws to disallow large, poorly-managed nightclubs from coming to Ybor. We are also encouraging the YCDC to come up with creative ideas to resucitate the retail sector. One idea, which you will hear about soon, is bringing retail incubators to Ybor.
Anthony
February 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amThe city of Tampa can make plenty of money by having plenty of police presence on it’s busy streets & issuing more speeding tickets. On Dale Mabry Hwy this mornin I saw a good 8 cars wiz by me going well over 55mph. That’s a good $1000 lost there alone!!