Little Five Points community divided over paid parking change

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – If you’ve ever been to Little Five Points, you know parking can be a chore. A new change from the city of Atlanta could make it even more difficult.

On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a plan to convert a 45-space parking lot near Euclid Ave., just behind many area businesses, into a paid lot.

“I parked in this lot for many, many years,” said Tracy Chu, a criminal records clerk.

The land has been a boon for Chu, who commutes to his weekend job from Macon.

“With the increase in gas prices, I already pay tolls and paying to park at work is also going to be a little more difficult,” she said.

Little Five Points employees and owners told Atlanta News First that the parking lot is primarily used by employees rather than customers. They worry that paying to park for eight hours a day could reduce their pay and force them to find new jobs.

Not everyone agrees. Several workers and property owners told ANF they support the change, saying the land tends to attract crime and graffiti.

One worker said the isolated lot is a “good place to park if you want to get killed or have your car broken into.”

Another said he hoped the money from the land would go toward getting rid of graffiti and installing better lighting.

This will only make the already tense traffic and parking situation even more difficult, especially on weekends when the area is packed with visitors.

Workers hope this will not push them away.

“It’s part of the community,” Chu said. “It’s been around for years.”

It is not yet clear how the salaries will be distributed. Everyone ANF spoke to said they would support a parking pass or validation system for Little Five Points employees.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.