Lack of downtown parking causes frustration

A downtown neighborhood could soon lose some of its “permit only” parking to the public.

El Paso Planning and Inspections has asked City Council to look into opening up more parking for people coming downtown.

Currently, a neighborhood near Southwest University Park has 81 parking spots allotted to the residents, as long as they pay for the parking passes.

Planning and Inspections conducted a study to see if the spots were utilized. Their study was done from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The results showed that only 56 percent of the spots were utilized.

Neighbors say the study wasn’t done during the proper time, and asked the department to do a followup during the peak hours: weekends and during baseball games.

Neighbors do not want to lose their parking, saying it was promised to them when they moved in. However, a local bar owner thinks it will be good for business and the neighborhood if the 10 spots were available to the public.

The department has used the last month to conduct research on the utilization of the parking spots, and it will present the information to council in May.