(WSVN) - Parking rates are doubling in one South Florida city six months after a major resort opened. So get ready to pay to park.
If you visit Hollywood, there is no doubt there’s lots to do between the newly opened Margaritaville, long standing Arts Park and of course downtown shopping, but as Hollywood continues to revamp their city and the beach front, they are literally running out of parking spaces.
So what is the city going to do?
Hal King, City of Hollywood parking administrator: “We’re going to be increasing the rates for the non-residents to $3 an hour Monday through Thursday and $4 an hour Friday through Sunday.”
As part of the program, Hollywood will get rid of individual meters and go with pay stations.
Residents who register their cars with the city would still pay the old rates.
Hal King, City of Hollywood parking administrator: “We haven’t had a rate increase down here since 2010, so that’s quite a while if you consider what the economy has done so far since that point.”
The city is now in line with South Beach … the only other place charging $4 an hour.
Hollywood officials believe even with the anticipated rate increase along the beach this month, it will still be a bargain because private lots charge anywhere from $20 to $30 a day.
So how do people feel about the rate hike?
Melissa, lives in Chicago: “I think it’s nice they give the locals a break because they are here daily versus us, they probably get more profit off of us.”
Fred, lives in Denver: “It shouldn’t go up, it’s already expensive enough, then we go out there and spend more money.”
Paul, who lives in Dania Beach, visits Hollywood four to five times a week to play paddle ball.
Paul, lives in Dania Beach: “I’m lucky. I can still ride my bike here. I feel sorry for people who can’t … they might not be coming to the beach.”
But city officials are hoping more people come to the beach and they say ultimately, it’s the city residents who should benefit the most.
Hal King, City of Hollywood parking administrator: “We’re trying to make changes to make life better for them, we want this to be a beach everybody can enjoy.”
Once the machines are installed, in order to get the lower parking rates, Hollywood residents will need to register their license plate through the new smart meters or through the parking division at City Hall.
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