ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – If you’ve ever been to Little Five Points, you know parking can be a pain. A new change from the City of Atlanta could make it even more difficult.
On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a plan to convert a 45-spot lot off Euclid Ave. just behind many of the area’s businesses to paid parking.
“I’ve parked in that parking lot for many, many years,” said Criminal Records employee Tracy Chu.
The lot has been a godsend for Chu, who commutes to her weekend job all the way from Macon.
“With gas prices going up, I pay toll already and to pay to park at work is going to be a little bit more of a challenge as well,” she said.
Little Five Points workers and owners told Atlanta News First that the lot is mostly used by employees rather than customers. They worry that paying to park for eight hours per day could bite into their pay and force them to find new work.
Not everyone feels this way. Multiple workers and owners told ANF they support the change, citing that the lot tends to attract crime and graffiti.
One worker said that the isolated lot is a “good place to park if you want to get killed or have your car broken into”.
Another said they hope the money from the lot goes towards getting rid of the graffiti and installing better lighting.
What it will do is make an already tight traffic and parking situation even tighter, especially on weekends when the neighborhood bulges with visitors.
The workers hope it doesn’t push them away.
“It’s part of the community,” Chu said. “It’s been here for years.”
It is unclear how the pay will be metered out. Everyone ANF spoke with said they would approve a parking pass or validation system for Little Five Points workers.
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