If you’re going to the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles, get ready to pay for parking.
Beginning Friday, 250 metered spaces will be added in the area between Alameda and Santa Fe from 1st Street to 4th Street, according to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
Drivers can pay using either one of the new kiosks or pay using one of two apps. Those apps are Park Smarter or ParkMobile. ParkMobile does have a vendor fee of 10 cents.
The goal is to “encourage vehicle turnover and increase the availability of parking spaces in response to requests from local businesses,” according to LADOT.
Not everyone is happy about the new initiative.
One man told KNX News’ Jon Baird called it “unnecessary.”
“It was never too much of a problem that you had to start charging for it,” he said.
Another man called it “pure greed.”
“They installed these systems to make sure that everyone can get tickets here and they actually made parking more scarce,” he said. “It's just greed. From the city. Doesn't make things easier for anyone.”
Our KNX News reporter also found two parking kiosks that were vandalized and some space numbers on the pavement that were painted over.
Video by Baird showed one kiosk that was painted over and bashed in. On top of the kiosks is a sign that reads “free parking.”
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