CityPlace Follies

The West Palm Beach mall will begin charging people to park starting this week. $1 per hour up to $5 maximum unless the person spends $100 shopping there or is attending the muvico theatre.

This was all reported in t his morning's Sun-Sentinel

Right now employees are supposed to park on upper levels to save space for customers but often do not, Herkal said.

The retail center needs to begin charging for parking because people throughout downtown have taken advantage of CityPlace's free parking garages without shopping there, Herkal said.

"We've become the prime parking destination, but not for our customers," he said.Things have gotten so out of hand that often it's difficult for CityPlace customers to find spots Friday and Saturday night, Herkal said.

The electronic gates that are being installed also will tell employees when the garage is full. There have been instances in the past when vehicles have been turned away, even though parking was available, Herkal said.

Peter Armato, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, acknowledged that business owners on Clematis Street have complained that the free parking had given CityPlace retailers an unfair advantage over them.

"That's water under the bridge," he said. "[CityPlace] has a lot to gain by managing their parking. I'm glad they're doing it."Armato said he doesn't think the retail center's customers will blink an eye at the new development.

They won't blink an eye Mr. Armato. They'll just go to other shopping centers, The Gardens, The Palm Beach Mall, The Boynton mall. This is all incredibly stupid, it's only going to hurt business at City Place. My wife will go there alot less than she does because of this.

Just further proof of what I say in my blog's description. You have to be a glutton for punishment to live down here in Florida.