City considers revamping parking spots

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Everywhere you look in downtown Austin, you see some kind of construction.

The City of Austin said that's why they are considering the possibility of revamping parking spot rules.

Currently, residential buildings Downtown must provide 60 percent of its normal parking, office buildings must provide at least 20 percent.

The City hopes to do away with the current ordinance to give builders more room for usable space, which in turn could help lower development cost and possibly lower rent.

The goal: to encourage a more walkable downtown and promoting alternative transportation.

But some believe Austin isn't equipped like other major metropolis' when it comes to that.

"There has to be places for people to park when they come downtown, public transportation is not available to everybody," said Jill Fletcher who works downtown.

That's why the City will make it an option for property owners and builders when it comes to regulated parking spots and not a requirement.

They will also add more permit parking for nearby residential areas to prevent over-flow.

Additionally, the City is working on parking locating devices around town, an innovative way to keep downtown growing while dealing with the demand for parking.