Thank you to Mayor Slater for bringing this forward.
As a downtown stakeholder and leader of the Orange Downtown Merchant’s Association, I can tell you this has been an ongoing issue and request since 2020, when the Orange Paseo was closed and routine sidewalk cleaning was reduced. Old Towne is the economic engine of our historic district. It’s the front porch of our city. When visitors come here, this is what they judge us by.
With the successful implementation of paid parking in the Old Towne Commercial Corridor, visitors are now paying a premium to be here. That raises expectations. If someone is feeding a meter or paying through an app, the environment needs to reflect that investment. Right now, spilled drinks, food debris, and pet waste are a regular concern. People shouldn’t have to watch every step they take. They should be enjoying our shops, restaurants, and public spaces.
Myself, several merchants, and residents have proposed treating a portion of paid parking revenue as a parking benefit district dedicating a percentage of net revenue directly back into Old Towne for enhanced services like regular steam cleaning. The district generates revenue, and the district sees visible reinvestment. That’s how you protect property values, support merchants, and maintain civic pride and arguably preservation.
I strongly encourage council to reinstate regular street steam cleaning and explore dedicating a portion of parking revenue to sustain it long term. I can guarantee this will give returns back to the city.
Thank you to Mayor Slater for bringing this forward.
As a downtown stakeholder and leader of the Orange Downtown Merchant’s Association, I can tell you this has been an ongoing issue and request since 2020, when the Orange Paseo was closed and routine sidewalk cleaning was reduced. Old Towne is the economic engine of our historic district. It’s the front porch of our city. When visitors come here, this is what they judge us by.
With the successful implementation of paid parking in the Old Towne Commercial Corridor, visitors are now paying a premium to be here. That raises expectations. If someone is feeding a meter or paying through an app, the environment needs to reflect that investment. Right now, spilled drinks, food debris, and pet waste are a regular concern. People shouldn’t have to watch every step they take. They should be enjoying our shops, restaurants, and public spaces.
Myself, several merchants, and residents have proposed treating a portion of paid parking revenue as a parking benefit district dedicating a percentage of net revenue directly back into Old Towne for enhanced services like regular steam cleaning. The district generates revenue, and the district sees visible reinvestment. That’s how you protect property values, support merchants, and maintain civic pride and arguably preservation.
I strongly encourage council to reinstate regular street steam cleaning and explore dedicating a portion of parking revenue to sustain it long term. I can guarantee this will give returns back to the city.