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City downtown struggles with lack of parking, growth of area
By Moryt Milo
Merchants in historic downtown Campbell all agree on one thing: Parking on E. Campbell Avenue between Railway Avenue and First Street is a major problem.
But opinions on how to solve the issue are all over the map, ranging from the implementation of a merchant parking permit program to creating more downtown parking lots.
Ironically, many of the complaining merchants are also the culprits, parking in front or near their business all day long, which continues to exacerbate the situation.
"Three to four years ago, parking was not a problem because the downtown wasn't that busy," Campbell Redevelopment Manager Kirk Heinrichs said. "Now we have a parking problem, which is a good thing because it means people are coming into the area. But it also means there needs to be a little bit of sacrifice on the part of employees. They should park a couple of blocks away or in a parking structure. "
Vintage Collectable Clothing store manager Sandi Feddema said she makes every effort to park in the First Street Water Tower parking structure.
"But for myself and a couple of the girls working at [Orchard Valley Coffee] we don't want to park far away when it's dark."
Heinrichs acknowledges that the First Street garage is a little outside the town and understands the hesitancy of employees to park there, especially those who work at night.
"We are looking to improve the lighting and signage so people feel more comfortable at night," he said.
But several merchants think more needs to be done.
Michael Symons, treasurer of the Downtown Campbell Business Association (DCBA), and owner of the Kensington Art Centre, said one solution would be a parking permit system for owners and employees.
He looked at the various parking lots behind the buildings located in the busiest sections of the downtown and would like to see the city develop a system that designates two parking spots per business in those lots.
"When merchants renew or obtain a business license, they would also pay a parking permit fee," he said. "It would bring in revenue to the city on an annual basis and it would get a lot of cars off the main street."
"If you do the math," he said, "there are 60-plus businesses on the avenue, and if each business had two assigned parking spots, it would free up at least 120 spaces on Campbell Avenue."
But not everyone agrees with Symons, especially the merchants doing business on Campbell Avenue past the First Street intersection.
In this section, many stores and business have ample parking in the back for customers and merchants. These businesses are also located next to a new 300-space parking structure, which is scheduled for completion in late May.
Having available parking in the back of the store for employees and customers makes a big difference, Tutto Bella manager Nicole Kypreos said.
But she thinks the town has been proactive in how it has addressed parking concerns.
ISLG owner and Campbell resident Andy Moore also credited the city with anticipating future parking needs.
"My home is right on the corners of Second Street and Civic Center Drive and the new parking structure overlooks my property," he said. "Many of my neighbors think it's an eyesore, but I am one of the neighbors most affected. Yet I thought it was a good idea, even though the top level of the parking structure looks down into my yard."
DCBA board member and owner of In the Cup golf gift store Lloyd Taylor said merchants locating into downtown should look at how parking will affect their business before deciding where to rent space.
"Merchants should be proactive in their thinking not [reactive] when it comes to parking" he said. "It's not very neighborly for employees to park outside their store and then complain that their customers have nowhere to park."
But Villa De Style owner Missy Jaffari, who has been on the avenue for only a month, said she wanted to move to the downtown area because of its charm and didn't consider the parking issue until she opened for business.
"I haven't been here long enough to know the ramifications of my decision [to move into Campbell]," she said. "Right now people are willing to walk two to three blocks, but I'll see what happens in the fall when the weather changes."
Heinrichs said it's a matter of changing the downtown mindset.
"When people go to Valley Fair they don't think much about the distance they have to walk from their car to the mall," he said. "But downtown people want to be close to where they are going, even though Campbell has a relatively small downtown area."
The merchants also emphasized the need for parking signs, which downtown lacks.
"Better signs that direct customers and employees to available lots would greatly help the situation," Kasé owner Kathy Obot said.
Most of the parking lots in downtown are not visible from Campbell Avenue, and customers unfamiliar with the neighborhood don't know where the outer lots are located.
"I had to go around the block a few times before I found a spot because I don't know the area," said Nancy Sheptin, a customer at Villa De Style.
Compounding the parking problem is also the lack of loading zones on the street. Cars often have to zigzag around large delivery vehicles that double park because there is no place to unload.
Merchants see the problem worsening in future years and they want to find solutions before the congestion becomes unmanageable.
"We don't need to eliminate parking we need to re-organize it," Symons said.
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Campbell, California
