Three Midtown Surface Parking Lots Make Critical Improvements
Midtown Alliance and City of Atlanta worked together to encourage lot owners to meet existing security and landscaping ordinance
Published: 02/11/2020
Before and after at 1200 Spring Street, operated by AAA Parking.
Three parking lots in Midtown recently have made significant strides to comply with design standards that help keep the district cleaner, safer and more beautiful.
Since 1984, surface parking-for-hire layout and design standards have been in place for certain districts in the City of Atlanta, including Midtown and Downtown. The requirements, encouraged by Midtown Alliance and enforced by the City of Atlanta’s Department of Public Works’ Parking Services Division, include proper signage, layouts, barriers, landscaping and trees.
Last spring, notification letters were sent to parking lot operators identifying their non-compliance and offering assistance in permitting the identified necessary improvements.
Within the past few months, operators of three lots in Midtown made the necessary improvements to comply with the security and landscaping ordinance.
A parking lot at 1052 West Peachtree Street, operated by LAZ Parking.
The three recently improved lots include:
- 44 North Avenue (Eagle Parking)
- 1052 West Peachtree Street (LAZ Parking)
- 1200 Spring Street (AAA Parking)
Parking Lot Standards Improve Safety, Economic Vitality and More
To comply with parking lot ordinances in Midtown and Downtown, surface lots must include:
- A minimum landscaped area of 10 percent of the paved areas;
- A minimum of one tree per eight parking spaces provided;
- Ground cover for all landscaped areas;
- Stone or concrete curbing installed around all landscaped areas and the lot’s edge
- Lighting throughout the lot
- ADA spaces to meet federal guidelines.
A parking lot at 44 North Ave, operated by Eagle Parking.
There are many reasons to apply these standards, including inclusivity, public safety, environmental stewardship, infrastructure cost and economic vitality.
With proper parking layouts, vehicular crashes are reduced and there is less likelihood of injury in conflicts between cars and those on foot. Barrier curbs help pedestrians feel safer, and they also help maintain sidewalk and street curbing. Lighting likewise makes everyone feel safer.
Landscaping areas help absorb rain water and prevent storm drain backup. Trees in landscaped areas prevent the heat island effect, improve air quality and provide shelter and relief for people from sun and rain.
At least seven other parking lots in Midtown are being asked to make similar improvements within the coming months.
Separately, Midtown Alliance is also working with local buildings to install standardized parking signage for public decks— read more about that program here.
If you know of any parking lot that is clearly not meeting code requirements, contact the City of Atlanta’s Department of Public Works – Parking Services Division at 404-330-6501.
