City leaders traveled to Springfield this week to show lawmakers how important a few legislative proposals are to them. Among the topics discussed: urging legislators to approve a law that would allow Naperville to levy a food and beverage tax on downtown businesses to pay for parking garage improvements.
Downtown Naperville could sure use some more parking, but decks can get expensive. These type of taxes tend to be passed along directly to consumers. What do you think? Are you willing to pay a little bit more to eat and drink downtown if it means parking will get a little bit easier?
I think more parking is a fantastic idea, but I don't like paying more for food and drink in Naperville. But perhaps the parking lot customers can pay for the garage? Imagine a new 400 space parking garage near the metra (perhaps above an existing flat lot). Estimate 5 Million for the garage (based on another one recently built of that size). Surely the garage will reach capacity on weekdays, so at $2-3/day * 400 spaces * 240 days/year * 30 years and it's paid for. I think it can be self sufficient.