Amid parking challenges for residents and visitors in Old Town, the Traffic and Parking Board approved additional parking spaces yesterday (Monday).
The changes respond to concerns from several businesses about parking availability east of Washington Street in Old Town. One of the major factors was the City Hall and Market Square renovation project, which temporarily closed the 180-space Market Square Garage in early 2026 and requires construction staging areas on surrounding streets.
According to city staff, loading zones reviewed for changes have been in place for many years or were created through an administrative approval process the board approved in 2023. City staff evaluated how loading zones are being used east of Washington Street and conducted outreach to business owners.
“The outreach found broad support for maintaining existing loading zones, while the evaluation identified several underutilized curb spaces that could be repurposed or modified to better serve current needs,” a city staff report said.
The board approved replacing loading zones and 20-minute parking areas with:
- One space in the 200 block of S. Union Street near Prince Street
- One space in the 200 block of N. Lee Street near Queen Street
- One space on the east side of the 100 block of S. Royal Street, mid block north of alley
- One space on the east side of the 100 block of N. St. Asaph Street, mid block north of alley
- One space on the north side of the 500 block of King Street, mid block
- Three spaces on the south side of the 600 block of Prince Street near Washington Street
The board also approved new parking in several areas:
- Three spaces on the north side of 600 block of King Street from St. Asaph Street to the no parking for bus stop (currently marked 7-11 p.m. only)
- Two spaces on the north side of 600 block of Prince Street near S. St. Asaph Street
- Two spaces on the north side of the 500 block of Cameron Street near N. St. Asaph Street (once the curb cut is closed)
- Replacing a taxi stand and valet parking zones on the south side of the 400 block of King Street with metered parking and a pick-up area
Loading zones and 20-minute parking areas that the board did not take action on were:
- The 100 block of S. Union Street, near Prince Street
- The east side of the 200 block of N. Fairfax Street, near Cameron Street
- The east side of the 100 block of S. Fairfax Street, near King Street
- The west side of the 100 block of S. St. Asaph Street, mid-block, south of alley
- The north side of the 300 block of Cameron Street, near N. Royal Street
City staff also withdrew a proposal to replace sheriff-only parking on the west side of the 100 block of S. Pitt Street with metered parking.
According to a staff presentation to the board, the Old Town Civic Association endorsed the parking changes in a letter.
“I walk past almost all of these spots often, and I often find myself wondering why parking wasn’t permitted there,” Scott Corzine, a member of the Old Town Civic Association, said in testimony to the Traffic and Parking Board. “I think it’s a small step in addressing the long-term crisis of parking unavailability in Old Town that negatively impacts residents, tourists, businesses and city workers. So, I’m fully in support of this, and I applaud the staff doing the grunt work it took to locate these spaces.”
Along with the board’s approved parking changes, the city has been looking for other solutions to address Old Town parking challenges during the Market Square garage closure. The city is working to update its business discount parking program, which is open to as many as 90 spaces at the Courthouse Square Garage. Mayor Alyia Gaskins also urged city staff to explore agreements with private parking garages around Old Town.
The parking changes come as the city is set to raise metered parking rates on July 1. In the latest budget process, City Council approved raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 but denied a request for metered parking fees on Sundays.
Many blocks on and close to the King Street corridor have two or three-hour metered parking from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Areas of Old Town are eligible to petition for residential permit parking districts, which restrict parking hours unless vehicles display residential parking permits.
