Poll: Does Catonsville Need a Public Parking Lot?

Richard Hiteshew December 19, 2011 at 11:25 am

People do not use the lot that is there now.

Jim Arndt December 19, 2011 at 12:50 pm

Where would you suggest to put it? I thinking finding a suitable location would be an issue. There are plenty of side streets where you can park.

Dave Ditman December 19, 2011 at 01:38 pm

As I understand it, what was once a county-owned public lot was sold to a local property developer some years ago; other than metered spaces on the street, there is no public parking in Catonsville.

jtebo December 19, 2011 at 02:25 pm

There's a great piece of useless property next to the firehouse. It has a sign hanging out front reading Elija Cummings. He couldn't find catonsville if he had a fricken map. We could start there.

Jennifer December 19, 2011 at 02:59 pm

Public lot would be great. I parked at the animal hospital once just to pick up a sandwhich bc I couldn't find a place anywhere else. They were towing my car within 10 minutes and sitting there laughing about it as my daughter was crying hysterically. Cost me over $100 when there was plenty of parking available at the hospital. What Catonsville spirit! Public parking would be great!!

laura kooyman December 19, 2011 at 04:17 pm

There's plenty of parking, but you're never really sure if you can park there or not...except of course for the places that post signs warning you you could be towed. If business/lot owners would just meter their lots, that would solve the issue--many property owners along Frederick are only open 9-5--It would give me a legal place to park and not take a chance ong being towed or ticketed and they could make some money by metering their lots after business hours! Especially around CES where there isn't enough parking during school-wide events, and around all the latest restaurants...(and by the way--sometimes the owner doesn't call the tow trucks to come, the tow truck companies just watch the lots for illegal parking so they can make a few bucks--$200 CASH ONLY..what a racket!)

Sharon Stanton December 21, 2011 at 01:15 pm

well there are a good number of places to park; starting in the Methodist Church Parking lot across from the post office - but don't forget to put some coins into their parking meter to help with its upkeep. Then I notice so many people, including reisdents on Newburg, park in my church's parking lot - Salem Lutheran - no fees. The lot behind the firehouse has a good number of spots. And how about the Methodist Church/Social Services parking lots. That's a pretty good size area. But yes, i do agree with Laura above, that a person never knows for sure if you are "allowed" to park in the big lot near Peace of Pizza, especially with the "tow" signs. And that's a huge lot that should be open to the public, especially with the restaurants located on the side street. Parking is difficult, i agree, further down frederick road near the elementary school as well as being so congested with traffic all the time. Truthfully, don't know where a parking lot could be squeezed in, but in theory it sounds good.

Emily Lowe December 21, 2011 at 04:53 pm

I don't know that we need a new lot, but the parking we have needs to be better organized, and the shopkeepers need to start working together to ensure everyone's customers can bring their business downtown. I'd love to see a Pay to Park kiosk (who carries quarters anymore?!) and clear signage enforced by honest proprietors.