New hourly parking charges in downtown Fayetteville worry some business owners

ByChris Hemric WTVD logo
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Some Downtown Fayetteville businesses worried about new parking fees
Parking in downtown Fayetteville will cost $1 an hour starting Thursday. The plan is getting mixed reaction from business owners who worry about losing patrons.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- On Thursday, street parking in downtown Fayetteville will cost $1 per hour from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This post-pandemic parking plan is getting mixed reactions from downtown businesses and patrons.

Salon owner Erica Bryant said she worries that she will lose clients who can't find parking or don't want to pay for the parking deck.

"Sometimes they will have to walk a long way just to find somewhere to park so I think now they would have to pay a dollar just to park closer so that right there might even make us lose business."

Bryant has owned Gifted Hands Salon for three years, and like many businesses, she looks forward to a strong summer and beyond as the pandemic slows and people return to the downtown area.

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Many said they will still come down and they don't mind the change but it does make a quick stop for coffee or an errand a little more inconvenient.

The parking meters have been in place for some time and take card or touchless payment options.