Atlantic Station Doing Away With Totally Free Parking
Decatur Metro | July 6, 2011What Now Atlanta? reports that Atlantic Station is informing customers that beginning July 11th they’ll have to buy something at an AS retailer if they want the two hours of free parking, which many have become accustomed.
According to an AS sign posted on the site, shoppers will need to receive a validation card from a retailer post-purchase to get that most expected of modern day conveniences – free parking! New Atlantic Station management is also painting parts of the underground parking deck in festive colors as part of a $2.5 million overhaul.
One must assume that such a policy targets loiterers and cruisers, who have long made it difficult for AS to develop the upscale image it seeks. It will be interesting to see what impact such a policy will have. Sure, you just need to buy something inexpensive to get a parking validation, but for most, even that is enough hassle to justify going elsewhere. Of course, that doesn’t apply to just loiterers, but also shoppers with no specific intents to buy.