I am sure now that there is some sort of conspiracy regarding downtown parking. The city of Coeur d’Alene has now paid for TWO parking studies that essentially say the same thing, “We need more parking in the downtown core,” and is still sitting on its hands! Apparently, the Coeur d’Alene Press is on board now (read Friday’s Editorial “Parking Paradise”). How could The Press possibly suggest that the proposed new parking west of Memorial Field for Kootenai County employees, will help downtown parking! This proposed parking lot is not being built for downtown visitors — it is being built for the courthouse.

Here is more fodder for my conspiracy theory: When the McEuen Park remodel was pitched, they promised more parking in the really really expensive new parking structure. By the time it was done, it actually offered less parking. But, the city insists there are more spaces because of the new lot south of City Hall. Balderdash! Downtown customers are not going to walk that far. Another instance of number manipulation occurred in the original parking study, where the city had The Resort’s parking garage added to the number of spaces available downtown to make it look like we didn’t have a problem. Conspiracy I tell you!

I opened a business downtown nine years ago and have been hearing my customers complain about parking every day since. Of course, our customers want convenient parking — they get it everywhere else! You cannot build a commercial building anywhere in the city without having adequate parking in the plan. Why is downtown different?

The first parking study identified that nearly one-third of downtown parking spaces were occupied by downtown employees. So about eight years ago, I went to the parking commission with a suggestion that we allow employees of downtown businesses to park free in city lots. Troy Tymesen rebuffed me for suggesting that the city should “subsidize” parking for downtown businesses. Subsidize? Aren’t our property taxes “subsidizing” everything downtown, including his salary? Guess what? Now, eight years later the city is finally “subsidizing” us by offering parking discounts to downtown employees. That was a tough one …

WE NEED MORE PARKING DOWNTOWN! WE NEED FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN! WE NEED TO STOP THE TWO-HOUR PARKING LIMIT, WHICH TELLS OUR VISITORS TO COME TO COEUR D’ALENE — BUT ONLY STAY TWO HOURS! IS ANYBODY LISTENING?

And now, instead of more downtown parking we have spent millions on the Four Corners area, and the city is about to approve a multimillion dollar remodel of City Hall!

Like it or not, ALL downtown businesses are in competition with Riverstone, Silver Lake Mall and other shopping areas that offer AMPLE FREE PARKING! Wouldn’t it be nice if the businesses that are paying for things like the new McEuen Park (through our commercial property taxes) actually get something in return? McEuen is nice, but I challenge you to find one business downtown that has significantly benefited financially. Sorry, but kids do not spend money!

I suggest we rename our “economic development” entity again. How about instead of “ignite cda,” we name them “Deflate Downtown CDA?”

Build the damn parking garage already! Build it and they will come — back!

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Dave Pulis is a downtown Coeur d’Alene business owner and Twin Lakes resident.