University City Gets the Boot

One potential gold mine seems to be the free municipal lots just north of Delmar. "We were blown away by how much the lots are used in the evening and how much money they could generate," Eastman says. U. City officials conducted a study last fall that showed that if they charged $2 per vehicle between 4 p.m. and midnight, the city could raise $1 million per year. But the proposal has been unpopular with Loop merchants, who are afraid the pay lots would scare customers away.

"Parking in the Loop is such an issue," says Kelly von Plonski, the owner of Subterranean Books. "I know U. City has a budget crunch, and maybe in the long run charging for parking won't affect anything, but my immediate reaction is eeeeeuuuuch."

"It's not fair to people who work here," says Liz Schilli, a hostess at Cicero's. "I don't feel I should have to pay to come to work."

Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill, doesn't think the city will follow through with the revenue-generating lots. "They're just throwing ideas out," he says. "My feeling is, the city won't push for it if the merchants aren't for it."

Contact the author aimee.levitt@riverfronttimes.com