SAN ANTONIO — One of the last free parking lots in Southtown San Antonio will no longer exist come the beginning of 2025.
The owners of the Blue Star Arts Complex told KENS 5 a pay-to-park lot will be in place come the new year.
Property management ensures rates will be affordable and validations will be available in many cases but for business owners and artists, they feel this could create more intentional parking but possibly drive away business.
“I hope it doesn’t scare people off," Jim Hover at Blue Star Bike Shop said.
The fear is that the complex has had free parking for so long, implementing this new system could deter patrons from what Blue Star is about.
“It brings people to come and shop and experience community in San Antonio which is different than big box stores," local artist Christina Martinez said.
Martinez has showcased her art and others at The Brick for years. Martinez has even been coming to the complex since she was in High School.
She thinks growth has to do with this change but knows it's really important that the people who make decisions continue to support the people that make these areas "cool."
Hover believes there could be a benefit to this paid parking.
"I appreciate people visiting the complex because we have a lot of great businesses here… But often people don’t visit the businesses here," Hover said.
He's talking about the people he watches park in their already limited lot to spend the day walking the River Walk or go somewhere else, rather than visit the complex and contribute to the businesses there.
So come 2025, more local dollars will go into the Laz Parking’s "Text-To-Park" system. Property management told KENS 5 their goal is to ensure Blue Star’s customers always have a parking spot and that the transition is seamless.
“The people that make neighborhoods cool should afford to live here," Martinez said.
Property management also told KENS 5 they’re currently conducting a parking study to determine the needs of the patrons and tenants and more details will come as that study ends.
“People who honestly want to visit the businesses here, they will have parking… There has to be some kind of voucher system so our customers don’t get scared away," Hover said.