Published in 2007 in The Augusta Chronicle, “Parking Less Pricey in Downtown Athens” details a now-resolved dispute among Athens residents as to whether or not parking meter prices and fines should be raised, as they were some of the lowest among the Georgia cities surveyed. At the time, parking meters charged five cents per twelve minutes, and a ticket for an expired meter was $3, while parking beyond the time limit was a $5 ticket. While some residents and city officials wanted the ticket fines to remain that low, they have since been raised to $10 for an expired meter and $15 for parking beyond the time limit.
“Third Try to Build On Downtown Lot,” published in 2009 in the Athens Banner-Herald, describes the debate among Athens business owners and city officials to decide if building a four story parking deck on East Broad Street would detract so much from the look and feel of historic downtown that it wouldn’t be worth it. However, members of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundations voiced their support for it.
Another parking deck, this one six stories, encountered greater resistance in late 2009, as reported by the Athens Banner-Herald in “Too Late for Say On New Deck.” Citizens felt that city commissioners fast-tracked the building of the parking deck without making sure local business and citizens approved of it. Many were afraid it would obscure and dwarf the Georgia Theatre and simply be a drab eyesore. The city commission was unwilling to change or slow down the process.