Keep Parking Free at Reston Town Center

[Anonymous]

They tried to work out a compromist at Rockville Town Square (which is near a metro); they charge for parking--but you can get 2 hours of free parking if you have one of the store staff scan your parking receipt.

Not as big of a pain as it sounds, but the parking charges at many places in MD do keep me away from the retail and restaurants. Reston Town Center is pretty nice, but they need to work out some sort of parking solution for people who are popping in to eat or buy something at one of the stores, not park there all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't RTC figure out a way to keep parking free for patrons but avoid metro parking? I mean, Tysons Corner figured it out - they added gates which stay down on the mall parking lots until 10 am so commuters can't park there. And it's actually connected to metro, so a lot more convenient for metro goers. (I don't work there, but I believe employees have a card that can open the gates to park.)

Tysons doe not let anyone other than mall employees in until 10AM. Because it is a mall and the businesses there do not open until 10 AM (and other than elderly mall walkers, I doubt many people want to be in the mall before the stores open). I am not sure RTC works the same way in terms of time.

Yup. Kudos to Tysons, but I am certain that there is a Starbucks in Reston Town Center that will have a problem with this plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They tried to work out a compromist at Rockville Town Square (which is near a metro); they charge for parking--but you can get 2 hours of free parking if you have one of the store staff scan your parking receipt.

Not as big of a pain as it sounds, but the parking charges at many places in MD do keep me away from the retail and restaurants. Reston Town Center is pretty nice, but they need to work out some sort of parking solution for people who are popping in to eat or buy something at one of the stores, not park there all day.

It's still not free parking though. You don't have to pay when you park, but somebody is paying for it -- namely, the stores and the county (i.e., the taxpayers)). For example, for library parking, you get to park for "free" because the county pays the owner of the Rockville Town Center garage an annual payment. (Meanwhile, if you take the bus to the library, you have to pay for it.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They tried to work out a compromist at Rockville Town Square (which is near a metro); they charge for parking--but you can get 2 hours of free parking if you have one of the store staff scan your parking receipt.

Not as big of a pain as it sounds, but the parking charges at many places in MD do keep me away from the retail and restaurants. Reston Town Center is pretty nice, but they need to work out some sort of parking solution for people who are popping in to eat or buy something at one of the stores, not park there all day.

It's still not free parking though. You don't have to pay when you park, but somebody is paying for it -- namely, the stores and the county (i.e., the taxpayers)). For example, for library parking, you get to park for "free" because the county pays the owner of the Rockville Town Center garage an annual payment. (Meanwhile, if you take the bus to the library, you have to pay for it.)

Of course it's not "free" but the consumer who is shopping isn't directly paying. Just like I don't pay for parking at the grocery store even though someone had to pay for that asphalt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They tried to work out a compromist at Rockville Town Square (which is near a metro); they charge for parking--but you can get 2 hours of free parking if you have one of the store staff scan your parking receipt.

Not as big of a pain as it sounds, but the parking charges at many places in MD do keep me away from the retail and restaurants. Reston Town Center is pretty nice, but they need to work out some sort of parking solution for people who are popping in to eat or buy something at one of the stores, not park there all day.

It's still not free parking though. You don't have to pay when you park, but somebody is paying for it -- namely, the stores and the county (i.e., the taxpayers)). For example, for library parking, you get to park for "free" because the county pays the owner of the Rockville Town Center garage an annual payment. (Meanwhile, if you take the bus to the library, you have to pay for it.)

Of course it's not "free" but the consumer who is shopping isn't directly paying. Just like I don't pay for parking at the grocery store even though someone had to pay for that asphalt.

The point is, somebody has to pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it, then the stores have to pay for it (and pass the costs on to you). Or the county has to pay for it (with money from taxes from you).

But if you find it intolerable to directly pay for parking at Reston Town Center, then lobby the stores and/or your elected representatives to get other people to help pay for you to park your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They tried to work out a compromist at Rockville Town Square (which is near a metro); they charge for parking--but you can get 2 hours of free parking if you have one of the store staff scan your parking receipt.

Not as big of a pain as it sounds, but the parking charges at many places in MD do keep me away from the retail and restaurants. Reston Town Center is pretty nice, but they need to work out some sort of parking solution for people who are popping in to eat or buy something at one of the stores, not park there all day.

It's still not free parking though. You don't have to pay when you park, but somebody is paying for it -- namely, the stores and the county (i.e., the taxpayers)). For example, for library parking, you get to park for "free" because the county pays the owner of the Rockville Town Center garage an annual payment. (Meanwhile, if you take the bus to the library, you have to pay for it.)

Of course it's not "free" but the consumer who is shopping isn't directly paying. Just like I don't pay for parking at the grocery store even though someone had to pay for that asphalt.

The point is, somebody has to pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it, then the stores have to pay for it (and pass the costs on to you). Or the county has to pay for it (with money from taxes from you).

But if you find it intolerable to directly pay for parking at Reston Town Center, then lobby the stores and/or your elected representatives to get other people to help pay for you to park your car.

Well, the stores had been paying for it through higher rent. If they do not keep a good means of validating parking, the stores will lose business. I think validation will not be a problem; they will get it right.

[Anonymous]

We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

For whom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

For whom?

For RTC.
Who's writing these asinine replies? Arguing over how free parking isn't really "free". Come on, you know what pp meant.

Oh wait. Spring break has probably started in VA. That explains it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

For whom?

For RTC.
Who's writing these asinine replies? Arguing over how free parking isn't really "free". Come on, you know what pp meant.

Oh wait. Spring break has probably started in VA. That explains it.

I agree. Wth. Is this just one poster arguing with everyone? I think it would really impact RTC negatively to charge parking fees. I am just not paying to go shopping, especially not out in Reston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

For whom?

For RTC.
Who's writing these asinine replies? Arguing over how free parking isn't really "free". Come on, you know what pp meant.

Oh wait. Spring break has probably started in VA. That explains it.

I agree. Wth. Is this just one poster arguing with everyone? I think it would really impact RTC negatively to charge parking fees. I am just not paying to go shopping, especially not out in Reston.

RTC is owned by Monday Properties. Same people who own the garages. They are not going to harm themselves.

Probably they expect that retailers will validate, so parking at RTC will not cost you anything. It will cost the retailers, but if that is so big a problem to endanger retailer survival (which I doubt, I think RTC has been very successful) they can make some adjustment in retail rents. The parking revenue offsets the lost rent, and they keep the commuters from taking up the spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We go there for restaurants and stores. But we've also go out there for events such as the Gingerbread Man Mile race, Chalk Festival, kids music performances. If I have to pay for parking we'll just go to Fairfax Corner.

How much do you pay for those things? What percent more would it cost if the parking garage started charging fees?

The kids races are maybe $20, same for the chalk fest. The kids performances are usually free. We mainly go to Big Bowl or Chipotle to eat and don't spend more than $50 for the family. Percent more would be anywhere from 15-100%.

"Parking will be free on weekends, holidays and for special events, she said."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to reston before there were garages. There was just a big lot behind rio grande. (we have since left reston for another house, but can get to rtc in about 15 minutes)

Again, if they can figure out how to make it so I don't have to pay for parking when I want to take my child there for a little weekday excursion, fine. I sometimes just go there to window shop, kid plays in the fountains, maybe we grab a small meal. But being asked to pay to park there is going to send me to fairfax corner, which is about the same distance. That would be a shame.

For whom?

For RTC.
Who's writing these asinine replies? Arguing over how free parking isn't really "free". Come on, you know what pp meant.

Oh wait. Spring break has probably started in VA. That explains it.

Well, if Reston Town Center is the landlord of the stores and also owns the garage, and if charging a fee for parking will lead to stores moving out of Reston Town Center and other stores not moving in, then Reston Town Center will presumably figure something out that to enable it to not charge a fee for parking.

But this idea that I refuse to go anywhere where I have to spend a few bucks to park the car -- it's absurd. I do it too, but that doesn't make it any less absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We go there for restaurants and stores. But we've also go out there for events such as the Gingerbread Man Mile race, Chalk Festival, kids music performances. If I have to pay for parking we'll just go to Fairfax Corner.

How much do you pay for those things? What percent more would it cost if the parking garage started charging fees?

The kids races are maybe $20, same for the chalk fest. The kids performances are usually free. We mainly go to Big Bowl or Chipotle to eat and don't spend more than $50 for the family. Percent more would be anywhere from 15-100%.

"Parking will be free on weekends, holidays and for special events, she said."

there are lots of things to do there everyday. Not everyone is going for just those special events or on weekends.

I sometimes go there on a random Tuesday afternoon just to stroll around outside with my toddler and pop in and out of shops. Sometimes I spend money, sometimes I don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We go there for restaurants and stores. But we've also go out there for events such as the Gingerbread Man Mile race, Chalk Festival, kids music performances. If I have to pay for parking we'll just go to Fairfax Corner.

How much do you pay for those things? What percent more would it cost if the parking garage started charging fees?

Do you seriously pay for parking every time you go to the mall?

I do...

Us too, we use the valet at Tyson's almost every time.

Why do you pay for valet parking at Tyson's? There is plenty of parking in multiple garages.