The Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) will increase the parking rates of some city lots in the new year, including a 25% jump in the monthly rate for Lot 25, its City Centre Parkade. .Lia Depencier, who parks in Lot 25 at 3 St. and 10 Ave. S.W., told the Western Standard when she got the notice of the monthly increase from $300 to $375 — an increase of 25% — she was shocked. ."At a time like this, it seems unreasonable to increase parking rates by 25%," said Depencier. .Depencier, a wife and mother who works downtown in the oil and gas industry, said she was notified on November 16 that the monthly parking rate for her lot would be going up to $375 as of January 1. ."When conducting a rate review, we assess what similar lots in the area are charging and our current lot utilization," said CPA in its email. ."Beginning January 1, 2023, we will be raising rates in some CPA parking lots after our review found these rates were lower than market value."."I mean, with inflation where it's at, it just doesn't make sense the city would do this," said Depencier. "People are really struggling to make ends meet right now." .Depencier said after receiving the parking rate notice from the CPA, she started to hunt around and found a lot a bit further from her workplace, but said it was much more affordable for her. ."It worked out for me, because I found a cheaper option, but for some people I imagine an increase like this would be really hard to afford." .The CPA oversees over 40 lots in the city, according to Chris Blaschuk, CPA's interim general manager. Only five lots will see an increase in parking rates, either monthly or hourly, as of January 1, including Lot 24 — The Arts Commons Parkade, Lot 25, Lot 40 — Harmony Parkade, Lot 60 — Convention Centre Parkade, and Lot 72 — Veritas Parkade. ."Really, what we are looking at is just, we're taking into account the demand from the surrounding lots and adjusting the prices based on that," said Blaschuk. ."Some of the surrounding prices are really informing us what the market prices are. We are definitely priced below the market and are still lower than where rates were pre-pandemic." .Blaschuk said Lot 25, at its peak rate pre-pandemic, was $410 per month, still above the increased rate of $375 customers will be paying in the new year. ."The demand is coming back at different rates," he said, indicating the CPA dropped most rates at its lots during the pandemic. .Blaschuk said the CPA has a variety of lots at different monthly and daily parking rates, some more affordable than others. ."There are options where people can find a rate that's a bit more suitable for them that may not be in the particular lot they were in or that they would like," but said the CPA "still has lots that are considerably more affordable." .According to parking rate trackers, Calgary is still one of the most expensive cities to park in. WhereiPark says downtown Calgary rates range from $195 to $640..Spot Angels says price ranges from $35 to $285 for monthly parking in Edmonton, although the city advertises rates up to $315 for some city spots. .Spot Hero says the average monthly parking rate in Toronto is about $347. Spot Angels shows prices ranging from $150 to $452 in Ontario's capital. .In San Francisco, monthly parking will set you back about $340. .New York City also sports some of the most costly monthly parking in North America. According to Spot Hero, monthly spots average about $570. In Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx, you can find more reasonable parking rates between $150 to $300 per month.
The Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) will increase the parking rates of some city lots in the new year, including a 25% jump in the monthly rate for Lot 25, its City Centre Parkade. .Lia Depencier, who parks in Lot 25 at 3 St. and 10 Ave. S.W., told the Western Standard when she got the notice of the monthly increase from $300 to $375 — an increase of 25% — she was shocked. ."At a time like this, it seems unreasonable to increase parking rates by 25%," said Depencier. .Depencier, a wife and mother who works downtown in the oil and gas industry, said she was notified on November 16 that the monthly parking rate for her lot would be going up to $375 as of January 1. ."When conducting a rate review, we assess what similar lots in the area are charging and our current lot utilization," said CPA in its email. ."Beginning January 1, 2023, we will be raising rates in some CPA parking lots after our review found these rates were lower than market value."."I mean, with inflation where it's at, it just doesn't make sense the city would do this," said Depencier. "People are really struggling to make ends meet right now." .Depencier said after receiving the parking rate notice from the CPA, she started to hunt around and found a lot a bit further from her workplace, but said it was much more affordable for her. ."It worked out for me, because I found a cheaper option, but for some people I imagine an increase like this would be really hard to afford." .The CPA oversees over 40 lots in the city, according to Chris Blaschuk, CPA's interim general manager. Only five lots will see an increase in parking rates, either monthly or hourly, as of January 1, including Lot 24 — The Arts Commons Parkade, Lot 25, Lot 40 — Harmony Parkade, Lot 60 — Convention Centre Parkade, and Lot 72 — Veritas Parkade. ."Really, what we are looking at is just, we're taking into account the demand from the surrounding lots and adjusting the prices based on that," said Blaschuk. ."Some of the surrounding prices are really informing us what the market prices are. We are definitely priced below the market and are still lower than where rates were pre-pandemic." .Blaschuk said Lot 25, at its peak rate pre-pandemic, was $410 per month, still above the increased rate of $375 customers will be paying in the new year. ."The demand is coming back at different rates," he said, indicating the CPA dropped most rates at its lots during the pandemic. .Blaschuk said the CPA has a variety of lots at different monthly and daily parking rates, some more affordable than others. ."There are options where people can find a rate that's a bit more suitable for them that may not be in the particular lot they were in or that they would like," but said the CPA "still has lots that are considerably more affordable." .According to parking rate trackers, Calgary is still one of the most expensive cities to park in. WhereiPark says downtown Calgary rates range from $195 to $640..Spot Angels says price ranges from $35 to $285 for monthly parking in Edmonton, although the city advertises rates up to $315 for some city spots. .Spot Hero says the average monthly parking rate in Toronto is about $347. Spot Angels shows prices ranging from $150 to $452 in Ontario's capital. .In San Francisco, monthly parking will set you back about $340. .New York City also sports some of the most costly monthly parking in North America. According to Spot Hero, monthly spots average about $570. In Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx, you can find more reasonable parking rates between $150 to $300 per month.
