Downtown Parking
Brunswick has struggled with downtown parking for a long time.
Businesses and residents both want more of it for their shops or homes, but Brunswick’s geography makes that difficult.
Downtown is hemmed in by the railroad and canal on one side and the hill on the other. That makes large parking lots other than the MARC lot almost impossible. Nor would sprawling lots necessarily be a good thing. It’s important to have a walkable downtown where people can stroll past shops and see each other out and about, not just through car windows.
The City recently approved a one-year trial of a downtown parking plan proposed by a committee of residents and business owners. The plan reserves areas of downtown for free two-hour visitor and business parking during the day and resident parking in the evening. It’s a sensible approach that might make downtown street parking more efficient, though it won’t solve the underlying supply-and-demand problem.
Tackling the problem long-term probably requires a strategically-placed parking garage.
The MARC lot doesn’t quite do it, either. It’s a bit of a walk from a lot of downtown businesses, especially when commuters (like myself) take up the spots closest to Maple Avenue on weekday mornings. Not everyone is able to walk the distance—think of some seniors and people with disabilities—and most people out shopping don’t want to carry bulky items several blocks to their car.
Tackling the problem long-term probably requires a strategically-placed parking garage. It would need to be located closer to most shops than the MARC lot and be easy to get in and out of—think of Frederick’s Carroll Creek Garage. The added general-purpose capacity from a garage would make it possible to reserve more street spots for specific businesses, which helps ensure a steadier flow of customers.
A suitable lot would have to go up for sale to make a garage an option, and that may not happen right away. But the City should be on the lookout for opportunities over the next few years. If elected, I’ll be on the watch and ready to move when the chance presents itself.