River Market business owners frustrated with parking price changes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Business owners in Kansas City’s River Market say changes in parking prices are now costing them customers.

Kansas City started “surge parking” this summer, but business owners are so fed up they’ve started a petition to stop it.

Arthur Leduc, the owner of KC Taco Company, started the petition to lower the cost of parking and stop surge pricing in the River Market area.

“I try not to react, I try to respond,” he said.

He noticed the new parking signs this summer saying “This zone is subject to event based pricing.” Soon after, Leduc says a downward trend in foot traffic and business.

“They need to lift the surge pricing because it’s doing nothing but kill the businesses around here,” he said.

Leduc says in the last two and a half months, five businesses moved from the River Market and he’s lost a handful of employees.

He started the petition to overturn what he calls “unfair parking rates” in the River Market area.

The petition notes surge pricing during special events and KC Current games. Leduc says the price to park often jumps from about $1.50 to $30 on those days.

So far, about 30 businesses have signed the petition.

Planters Seed & Spice Manager Geoff Myer says the problem goes beyond surge pricing. They have free parking spots for customers across the street, but since the new restrictions, Myer says other cars steal the spaces.

“We get nothing but complaints from customers,” Myer said. “People call and say is there any place to park down there anymore?

Friday may be Mary Raymond’s last time in the River Market. Raymond lives in Shawnee and met a friend for lunch but not before she and two strangers jumped thru a few hoops navigating the park KC system.

“I just won’t be coming back until they fix this,” Raymond said. “I was fortunate that I saw people that work in the city market that could help me take care of it. Otherwise, I would’ve just driven off and told my friend, we’re not eating at the city market, we’ll go somewhere else.”

A spokesperson from Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office sent a statement to FOX4 saying “Mayor Lucas is listening to feedback businesses are sharing about surge parking and he is committed to continuing ongoing conversations with the business community to find solutions and adjustments that will work for everyone.”

Leduc says he’s attended several city council and committee meetings voicing his concerns. He hopes this petition will create change.

The River Market is located in Councilman Eric Bunch’s district. He tells FOX4 in some ways they’re moving in the right direction. However, he believes more thought needs to be put on how this impacts local businesses and residents. Bunch said he’s listening to feedback and will come up with a better solution.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.