Charlottesville Parking Center

From Cvillepedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Charlottesville Parking Center is a private company originally established in 1959 to manage parking facilities in Charlottesville's downtown.[1]

For many years, the CPC worked with the City of Charlottesville to provide parking for visitors to downtown Charlottesville but the relationship changed soon after Charlottesville entrepreneur Mark Brown purchased the company in August 2014. [2]

Current assets

CPC owns the Water Street Parking Garage and a portion of the spaces in the structure. For instance, CPC purchased 106 spaces from Wells Fargo in October 2015. [2]

CPC also owns the surface lot adjacent to the Water Street Parking Garage and leases it to Woodard Properties who in turn have a sublease to the city's Parks and Recreation Department for the City Market.

The company previously managed the city-owned Market Street Parking Garage and other spaces in the city but the city transitioned to a third-party after the settlement. [1]

Partnership era

History

Background

On September 6, 1949, City Council voted to acquire a 60-space parking lot at Williams Street, Commerce Street, and Preston Avenue for the sum of $22,500, plus $9,500 in construction and parking meter acquisition costs.[3] The following day, on September 7, 1949, the Daily Progress ran a column pushing for a publicly or privately financed parking center, following the lead of Lynchburg's parking center that first opened in 1928 and built a new garage earlier in 1949.[4] The Chamber of Commerce adopted a resolution commending City Council on their decision on September 8.[5] Several days later, on September 12, the Daily Progress ran another column touting the example of Montclair, NJ's municipal parking lots and advocating for Charlottesville to follow its lead.[6]

On October 21, 1957, Council appointed a special committee to confer with a committee from local business associations on finding replacement parking for the spaces that would be lost when the East End Merchants' Parking lot was taken for the forthcoming expansion of the Belmont Bridge.[7] The Eastn End Parking Lot was then owned by the East End Parking Lot Corporation.[8]

Establishment & purchase of C&O Depot on Water Street

The Charlottesville Parking Center received its charter on January 20, 1959.[9] It sought to raise $550,000 to develop a 350-space parking lot on Water Street, of which it successfully raised $180,000 at a benefit dinner its first week, on January 22, 1959. The lot was to be built from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's freight depot property between E. 2nd St. and E. 4th St., and would replace 158 off-street parking spaces in the East End parking lot on 7th St. and E. Main, which was to be acquired by the city and replaced by the approaches to the newly widened Belmont Bridge.[10] The lot was initially planned to be leased to a professional parking lot operator and projected to net about $30,000 in annual revenue.[9] By February 4, $247,000 had been raised.[11]

The initial fifteen directors of CPC were Henry A. Haden, Francis Brawley, Frank C. Burnley, J. Emmett Gleason, Harry A. George, S.F. Hamm, Sam T. McAtee, W.H. O'Mansky, Robert T. Redick, W.A. Rinehart III, William B. Trevillian, Gordon E. Wiley, Harvey L. Williams, and Harry A. Wright.[9]

Haden was elected as the first president on January 28, 1959, along with McAtee as vice president, Harrison as secretary, and Trevillian as treasurer.[12] Haden was re-elected on March 17, 1960.[13]

The C&O railroad board of directors approved the sale of the land on Monday January 26, 1959,[12] announcing its decision the following Saturday, January 31.[14] On July 6, 1959, City Council approved the closure of 3rd St SE between Water Street and the railway tracks, as well as part of South Street between 2nd St SE and the tracks, effective upon purchase of the property, resolving a legal obstacle resulting from Council's previous street closure in 1910, which stipulated that the right-of-way revert to the city if the freight depot ceased operations.[15][16]

The purchase closed on July 14, and was described as the largest real estate transaction in the history of the city at that time.[16] Demolition of the depot began in mid-August,[17] following the move of depot operations to two warehouses at First & South Streets purchased for $100,000 from the Albemarle-Michie Company.[18][19]

The Water Street lot officially opened on November 17, 1959[20] and contained 212 parking spaces.[10] Payments were made at a booth on the east side of the lot, where a single attendant punched tickets when cars entered and left. The price was 10¢ per hour or 50¢ per day and business hours were 8am-6pm Monday through Saturday, though Haden promised it would stay open later on nights that businesses closed late. The Tie Lot Service Station maintained a separate lot on the leased northwest corner of the parcel after CPC was unable to come to terms to operate a combined parking lot.[20]

The sale of the East End parking lot to the city for the Belmont Bridge approaches closed on July 26, 1960 with a $110,000 payment from the city to CPC.[10][21]

Later History

CPC threw a Christmas party at the Water Street Parking Center on December 1, 1960, with at least 3,000 children expected to attend, a 35-foot-tall Christmas tree, and carol performances by the Lane High School Concert Choir.[22]

The first documented vehicle collision in the Water Street Parking Center on November 30, 1960, when a hit-and-run driver damaged a front fender on an Earlysville woman's car.[23]

Pressure to sell

[24] [25]

Brown era

Sale in 2014 and acquisition of more of Water Street Garage

In August 2014, Charlottesville entrepreneur Mark Brown became CPC's owner, purchasing the company for $13.8 million. The purchase price of $34 per share for the 407,309 shares was approved at a CPC shareholders meeting on August 4 and closed on August 12. [26]

At the time, Brown retained Bob Stroh as CPC's general manager. Stroh had worked for the company for many years and provided stability during the transition.

Travel Demand Management System

In January 2015, CPC began a campaign to create a unified travel demand management system that would include parking in garages, on-street parking, taxi cabs, and buses. One of the companies whose technology might be used is Flow Thru Technologies. [citation needed]

Norris hired as CPC manager

Former Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris was hired to the general manager in March 2016. [27] [28]

City officials questioned Norris' qualifications to do the job, stating that he did not have six months of experience in parking management. [29]

CPC launches legal fight against Charlottesville

CPC filed suit against the Charlottesville in March 2016 claiming that the city has kept rates at the Water Street Parking Garage below market rate. CPC sought $1 million in damages as well as an injunction against the city allowing CPC to raise the rates. [2]

In April, Mark Brown hinted that CPC might close the Water Street garage at the end of the fiscal year if the dispute was not resolved. [30] He also asked the city to sell him their interests in the Water Street garage. [31]

The city filed a countersuit in late April 2016 claiming breach of contract when CPC purchased 106 spaces from Wells Fargo. [32]

Judge Richard E. Moore denied a petition from the CPC to allow an emergency received at a hearing on June 28, 2016. [33]

The city turned down a settlement offer in July 2016. [34]

CPC filed another suit against the city in March 2017 claiming that the city assessor refused to assess the value of the land on which the Water Street garage is built. [35]

As of late April 2017, the city has spent over $117,000 on outside legal fees related to the suits. [36]

The city and CPC settled in the summer of 2018. [37]





References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Web. Charlottesville Parking Center - About Us, archive.org, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Web. Charlottesville Parking Center files lawsuit against Charlottesville, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 14, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ Web. West End Auto Lot Voted; Bond Election is Set, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, September 7, 1949, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1.
  4. ↑ Web. Private Solution For a Public problem, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, September 7, 1949, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  5. ↑ Web. C. of C. Directors offer Perry Executive Secretary Position, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, September 9, 1949, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1.
  6. ↑ Web. Montclair Solves Its Parking Problem, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, September 12, 1949, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 4.
  7. ↑ Web. Council Planning Zoning Law Study, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, October 22, 1957, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1,10.
  8. ↑ Web. Council Defers Action on Health And Safety Code, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, May 20, 1952, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1,5.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Web. $180,000 Subscribed as Drive For New Parking Lot is Opened, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 23, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 13.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Web. City Takes Parking Lot For Bridge, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 26, 1960, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 11.
  11. ↑ Web. Center Raises Quarter Million for Parking Lot, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 4, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 15.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Web. Haden Named President of Parkign Firm, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 29, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  13. ↑ Web. Haden Re-Elected by Parking Center, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, March 18, 1960, retrieved March 15, 2025. Print. March 18, 1960 page 13.
  14. ↑ Web. C&O Okays Sale of Land, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 31, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 9.
  15. ↑ Web. City Council Approves $133,053 School Claim, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 7, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Web. Parking Center Purchases Freight Depot for $500,000, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 14, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1,8.
  17. ↑ Web. Demolition Of Depot To Begin, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 12, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  18. ↑ Web. C&O Purchases Site For New Freight Depot, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 16, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 1,22.
  19. ↑ Web. 106 West South Street Historic Survey, City of Charlottesville, May 1980, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Web. New Downtown Parking Lot Is Opened, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 18, 1959, retrieved 2026-01-13.
  21. ↑ Web. Property Transfers, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 3, 1960, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 3.
  22. ↑ Web. At Parking Center Party: Santa Claus Coming Tomorrow, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 30, 1960, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 13.
  23. ↑ Web. Two Wrecks Happen at Same Place, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 1, 1960, retrieved 2026-01-13. Print. page 25.
  24. ↑ Web. Economic brake felt by downtown parking company, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, April 12, 2009, retrieved June 19, 2014.
  25. ↑ Web. Fewer parkers: CPC reveals third straight drop, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, March 25, 2010, retrieved June 19, 2014. Print. April 1, 2010 , 0913, .
  26. ↑ Web. Brown’s buy: Charlottesville Parking Center sale finalized, Courteney Stuart, News Article, C-Ville Weekly, August 12, 2014, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  27. ↑ Web. Charlottesville Parking Center Announces Appointment of Former Mayor Dave Norris as General Manager, Press Release, Charlottesville Parking Center, March 28, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  28. ↑ Web. Norris to run downtown parking center, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 28, 2016, retrieved January 1, 2017.
  29. ↑ Web. City pushes back on parking company’s hiring of Norris, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 4, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  30. ↑ Web. Management could close Water Street garage over suit, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, April 19, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ Web. CPC owner asks city to sell interest in Water Street Garage, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 28, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  32. ↑ Web. City files countersuit against Charlottesville Parking Center, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 29, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  33. ↑ Web. Judge denies CPC’s petition for emergency third-party receiver, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, June 28, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  34. ↑ Web. City Council Response to CPC Settlement Proposal, Press Release, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 7, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  35. ↑ Web. CPC Manager Suing City Assessor over Water Street Parking Garage, Henry Graff, News Article, WVIR NBC 29, Charlottesville, March 30, 2017, retrieved April 29, 2017.
  36. ↑ Web. Outside Legal Counsel Over $117K for Charlottesville Parking Lawsuit, Henry Graff, News Article, WVIR NBC 29, April 28, 2017, retrieved April 29, 2017.
  37. ↑ Web. Truce: City and Mark Brown settle parking garage dispute, Lisa Provence, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, retrieved January 9, 2026.

External links

Retrieved from "https://cvillepedia.org/index.php?title=Charlottesville_Parking_Center&oldid=83026"