Oak Park trustees have agreed to provide the parking services in downtown Oak park for the rest of the year, though the program is projected to lose money.
The village entered into the agreement, for the construction of the 20 story Oak Park Station, with the SP Plus Corporation to operate a valet parking company program, at the January closure.
Two areas offering valet services with pickup and drop-locations in front of the Bar Loui on Lake Street and on the North Boulevard near Marion Street.
The budget for the fiscal year contained funds of $206,182 for one-year contract with SP Plus, and up to $20,000 for the marketing and branding purpose. The contract was approved in the month of February, and after four months it was called for the review of the valet service’s usage.
A minimum of 793 parking transactions per week is required for the village.
Though this parking lot is getting much of the attention, but the number of users remained far below the breakeven point.
In the month of March, 291 cars used the parking services and the revenue generated was $1,525. In April, the number of cars increased with the revenue of $2,269, and in May, the number of cars increased to 553 cars with revenue of 2,918, and in June it was $3,045 with 565 cars.
The valet parking program supporter Dr. Makis Limperis, who worked at 1125 Westgate St., spoke to the village board about the 18th July review of the program.
He said, “This is actually for the disabled and handicapped people, who are unable to get to us without this service.
He said, as the weather gets warmer, the valet service need, near his office, decreases and when the winter returns it get back to its normal routine.
The area merchants are also in favor of keeping the valet parking in position, according to Max Austin Williams of Downtown, Oak Park.
William said, “Everyone wants it to happen, it seems downtown has a very bright future in with this arrangement.”
A five story parking garage could be able to keep 400 cars. The parking garage could open by the late 2016, while the whole development could be open by spring 2017.