Buncombe County approved 50 additional spaces, for a total of 200, to its affordable parking program in downtown Asheville.
The program, launched in December 2022, allowed 150 workers downtown to access unlimited parking in the Coxe Avenue garage for $40 per month.
Many people employed downtown struggle to find and pay for parking to work in downtown Asheville, including former line cook Jack Paksoy, who said parking was one of the most stressful parts of working at places like Jack of the Wood and Claddagh Restaurant & Pub.
“Nearly a third of my paycheck went to parking,” he shared. “I was always trying to find the cheapest parking and that put me in danger, and put my coworkers in danger, because we were often parking in places that were cheaper but weren’t safe.”
Paksoy took a break from working downtown to attend college at UNC Asheville, but said he would absolutely take advantage of the parking program if he decided to work downtown in the future.
“This program has been a great help for everyone that has applied to use it,” he added.
To qualify for the program, workers must make 80% or less of the AMI (less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month). They also need a valid driver's license, credit card, and must be at least 18 years old.
At the August 15 Commissioners meeting, Economic Development and Governmental Relations Director Tim Love shared an update on the program and results from a recent feedback survey of more than 1,200 downtown employees. Of those who responded, 68% said they earn less than $20 an hour and 92% said a personal car is their primary form of transportation to and from work.
According to Love, the most common written feedback was “please have more spaces at more locations.”
Workers who participated in the program earn an average of $16 per hour and saved around $60-80 a month in parking costs, according to county data.
“Said another way, this is a trip to the grocery store, a couple tanks of gas, a rent payment over the course of a year,” Love said. “This is a genuine cost savings to those that participate, and for that reason we want to expand the program and keep it going.”
This month, 50 spots in the College Street parking garage will be added to the mix. There are also still 75 spots available at the Coxe Avenue garage. Registrations for the program will become available on a first-come, first-serve basis -- an update from the original program which used a lottery system.
The reason for that switch, explained Love, is that the program has not been maxed out with users. Love attributed the program’s 50% vacancy rate to the application process, which had only a two-week window.
“The thought process at the time, which I feel was sound, was from an equity standpoint to give more people the opportunity to have access to the program.” he said.
Now that the program is half full, Love said, it feels appropriate to give folks access to it in real time, without a waiting period or application process.
The county also plans to increase the program’s marketing to encourage greater participation.
Interested in signing up? Here’s what you need to know.
Registration for the new spaces goes live on Monday, August 21. Those interested can sign up online.
