Mall parking gets pricier

September 4, 2008
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Circle Centre Mall Indianapolis parkingThe operators of Circle Centre's parking garages have raised rates in a move designed to ensure spaces are available for shoppers and to bring in additional revenue. The new rates maintain the baseline of $1.50 for up to three hours, but guests who stay longer than three hours are seeing prices jump as much as 60 percent. Between three and four hours now costs $4, up from $3. Four to five hours run $8, up from $5. And five to six hours jumped to $12, from $8. Six to twelve hours go for $15, up from $12. The city owns one garage and Simon Property Group owns two others, but the city owns the property under all of them. The city puts the revenue from its World of Wonders garage toward debt service on incentives it gave to the developers of the Conrad Hotel. The garage spits out a guaranteed $600,000 per year, plus 85 percent of excess revenue. The rate hike was authorized in the original agreement with Simon and garage manager Denison Parking.
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  • AblerockSeptember 4, 2008 1:01 PM
    No one likes to see prices rise, but I think it's great that they're keeping the 3-hour rate at $1.50.

    I often use Circle Centre's parking to eat at Patachou (since the city often bags every meter nearby) and other downtown restaurants because it's such a great deal for short stops.
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  • MikeWSeptember 4, 2008 1:09 PM
    I agree. This is a manageable increase. I often park there and walk to The Vic and enjoy the walk. Keeping that loweer rate will still ensure everyone can use the garage and still visit the downtown for a good amount of time.
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  • calicaliSeptember 4, 2008 1:13 PM
    Still one of the cheapest and easiest downtowns to park in the entire country..... no big deal.... I laugh to hear Indy residents complain about parking....
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  • CorrNDSeptember 4, 2008 1:54 PM
    If they're not changing the 3hr rate I don't care too much. 95% of the time I park downtown, it's for less than 3hrs.

    calicali -- I laugh too. Parking is so simple in Indy.
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  • RodneySeptember 4, 2008 2:08 PM
    I think people tend to complain about parking because of the difficulty finding and random availability (eg. red bags) of street parking. Indianapolis is the land of the strip mall and many residents, especially those in suburban areas, are apprehensive about leaving their car in a parking structure. I think the appalling number of surface lots in our downtown area is a testament to this mindset.

    I also wish Denison didn't have a virtual monopoly on parking garages, but that's a different argument and a futile one at that.
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  • Jim BSeptember 4, 2008 2:09 PM
    Yes, parking in Indy is a breeze and cheap. I just came from Seattle and parked in a garage downtown. $14.00 for three hours! We should complain? No, I don't think so.
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  • Mike ChristopherSeptember 4, 2008 2:25 PM
    Circle Centre has the cheapest and easiest parking in the city, definitely no room for complaints over a small increase. I park there weekly and never have any problems, still the best place to park in the city.
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  • MattHSeptember 4, 2008 3:19 PM
    Try parking in downtown Chicago, thats expensive parking!
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  • BingSeptember 4, 2008 3:20 PM
    Smart move not to change the 3 hour rate.

    On a different subject, could someone explain why our leaders have not resolved the lack of parking around our new $720 million Lucas Oil Stadium after years of planning?

    I would think parking revenue would be the logical solution for a stadium projected to run tens of millions in operating losses for CIB/Taxpayers.
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  • MikeWSeptember 4, 2008 3:27 PM
    Don't forget, almost all of those surface parking lots in downtown, are not accessible to the normal visitor. Those are rented out and sometimes key-coded only for employees of Captial Center, AUL, Government and some other open lots dedicated to Business, that with the red bag syndrome, I could see why others would be frustrated to see all the open parking, but still have to go to a garage.

    However, when they leave the garage I bet they are happy because it was Hella Cheap!
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  • GeorgeOrwellSeptember 4, 2008 5:26 PM
    This is not so much about this particular parking facility but a comment from my brother that flew in 2 weeks ago, rented a car from the airport and parked at his designated downtown hotel. He found the 27% service tax on his car rental 'interesting'; The $20 per day add'l parking charge at his hotel; Also thrilled at having streets blocked off for the Bills game and couldn't get back to his hotel. He's an executive in the resort business with offices in Naples, Fl. He already gets perks-but said a stay in New York 2-months ago at the Waldorf Astoria was less expensive, including restaurants and Martini-Cigar lounges; Took cabs everywhere there. If you don't think it's overpriced downtown, ask the FFA. They took their convention to Louisville citing $$$.
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  • idyllic indySeptember 4, 2008 11:31 PM
    Know how to make parking cheaper downtown? Discourage people from visiting.

    Know how to discourage people from visiting? Build more parking lots and poorly designed, unattractive parking structures (i.e. those without retail/service activity on the ground floor).

    I do, however, totally agree about the hooded meter problem. I wonder who is responsible for this mess. There seem to be places where the meters are hooded more often than not, for no apparent reason. On-street parking is where short-term parking should be provided. The City needs more 15, 30, and 60-minute meters, and to enforce them on evenings and weekends, so that quick trips can be accommodated without driving into a garage, which should be for longer visits.

    Oh, and Bing, I have no idea what you're talking about. Pretty sure the new stadium (one block from the old stadium) has several thousand more parking spaces than the Dome. Was there a parking problem at the Dome?
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  • BrandonSeptember 5, 2008 1:02 AM
    $20 for a day of parking at a downtown hotel is very cheap! I'm staying in downtown Chicago next month and every hotel I've checked charges between $45 and $55 a night for parking. I've always thought parking in downtown Indy was very cheap, even before I lived here.
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  • ShaneSeptember 5, 2008 9:21 AM
    I didn't know the FFA convention would not return.
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  • JeffSeptember 5, 2008 10:19 AM
    Some of you are not reading the story. The 3 hour rate is jumping 50%. Yes, it's only 50 cents, but 50% is 50%. How many of us wish we could get 7-10% for our time? Parking must be one of the most profitable ventures out there. No risk, minimal maintenance costs, virtually no labor costs, 363 demand (only two days of no demand being Thanksgiving and Christmas.) What a deal! Sure we are still below the national average but somewhere back in elementary school I learned that averages are a function of both highs and lows, and in some cases, low is a GOOD thing.
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  • CorrNDSeptember 5, 2008 10:36 AM
    Jeff -- the 3hr mall rate jumped from $1 to $1.50 a couple years ago. That rate is staying the same.
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  • BobUpSeptember 5, 2008 10:42 AM
    Chicago? Driving? Try this: park your car in Indy or Crawfordsville, take the Amtrak train to Chi for about $20 each way, take a cab from Union Station to your hotel. The gas and parking money you save will make the one hour (maybe less) longer it takes on the train VERY much worth it, and you will enjoy a cool train ride!
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  • Another JeffSeptember 5, 2008 11:25 AM
    Parking in Chicago is expensive, but you can definitely save by parking yourself in a self-serve garage. There's quite of few of them, typically within a block or two of a hotel. The $45 rate from the hotel drops to about $30. It's still expensive, but worth it.
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  • IndyMattSeptember 5, 2008 1:33 PM
    FFA isn't moving at least for 2008. They'll be here October 22-25, 2008. When they come to town, there are lots of busses - which are depoted over at White River State Park and the Zoo parking lot.

    I think the comparisons to other cities is slight unfair. As compared to Chicago, if we had the public transportation they do... or the number of residents downtown then we could compare.

    Heck, I lived in Los Angeles... parking not such an issue b/c of how spread out the city is... plus everywhere you go has valet!
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  • NickSeptember 5, 2008 1:37 PM
    I imagine this increase is geared towards workers downtown. However, when I worked in 30 South (not to mention Nat City Center), I had plenty of coworkers who did the Three Hour Tango to avoid paying the next level.

    As for Chicago, I just drive up to East Chicago (Don't laugh) and grab the South Shore line. The lot is lighted and monitored, and I've never had a problem, and it's $4.50 each way (depending on the day).
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  • GarySeptember 9, 2008 9:00 AM
    The FFA has made no such decision yet. But, no it would not be a big surprize to see them move back to Louisville. It is much cheaper for them and honestly those kids don't spend a lot of money. Louisville is more an FFA town than Indy is.
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  • GarySeptember 9, 2008 9:07 AM
    They guy that wrote that is more than likely from Louisville. It's best not to engage them. They are kinda of like Patriot fans only a lot dumber.

    Sounds like the RNC want to come here in 2012....that is a convention worth having.
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  • GarySeptember 9, 2008 11:46 AM
    Corey S,

    I have noticed that after about 25 comments to you blogs I can not longer add or ever scroll down anymore. I have had the problem on all computers. Is this just a limitation or is it just me?
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  • cschoutenSeptember 9, 2008 11:48 AM
    It's working fine for me. Anyone else having trouble seeing all the comments?
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  • Da HooeySeptember 9, 2008 9:59 PM
    Nope
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