There’s more parking in downtown Campbell. It’s just not free.
The public pay-for-parking lot, Orchard City Parking, located at 345 E. Campbell and 39 N. Central avenues, opened late last year, according to its operator Jeremy Blanchard, with a soft opening on Dec. 1. In late November, the lot opened for a temporary free phase.
Parking costs $3 per hour, with a daily maximum set at $30. Cars can park 24 hours.
“If people have been drinking downtown, they don’t have to worry about their car,” Blanchard said. “They can leave it overnight. The lot is lit and has cameras.”
There are a total of 22 spots, which includes one ADA-accessible parking space.
“It was a parking lot before, so we decided, ‘Why not bring that back?’” Blanchard said. “It’s for convenience. You can drive around to look for a spot or pay a fee for a spot where you don’t have a short time limit.”
The city has 853 long-term parking spots within the downtown, 22 four-hour spots, 283 two-hour spots and other spots for shorter time periods. This lot is not city-owned.
In December 2015, Campbell’s Planning Commission gave the go-ahead to allow the former free parking lot to become a pay-for-parking lot. Previous to the lot sitting vacant for a few years, the city leased it from owner Xavier Sanchez to use for public parking during the construction of the parking structure on Second Street from 2000 to 2011.
The city had to end its lease due to budget cuts, according to Campbell’s Associate Planner Stephen Rose.
While Sanchez does hope to build on the lot one day, Blanchard has a five-year lease with the owner to operate as a parking lot. Blanchard said when the lease is up, he’ll consider his options again. For now, Blanchard is working to get signage to let people know the lot is open for business.
“It’s growing,” Blanchard said.
While businesses in the downtown will not validate parking, Bombshell Boutique is offering $3 off a customer’s purchase if they park in the new lot. Blanchard said he would like to work with organizations that run popular events, such as Bunnies and Bonnets, Oktoberfest and the Farmers Market, to have the space used by vendors.
