FAQ
Why are we launching a new parking program in the downtown? How does it work?
See below!
Parking and congestion has created frustration in downtown St. Joseph for a long time. The City’s Master Plan mentions parking and congestion as a problem as far back as 2016. When we created our 2020 Downtown Vision Master Plan, we started with feedback. We had 2,000 replies through touchpoints like emails, focus groups, surveys. etc. One thing stood out above all others as a problem for everyone visiting downtown: parking.
The new Downtown Parking Plan was adopted to make it easier to park in the busiest areas of downtown. Paid parking west of Main Street will increase parking availability, reduce the number of vehicles circling around looking for an available space, and make better use of the underused parking east of Main Street.
Turnover is critical to most downtown businesses, since parking supply is limited.
If parking is used by longer-term parkers, such as beach goers, employees, residents, etc., fewer short-term customers have the opportunity to use that space. This restricts access to the downtown.
Turnover is important to the health of downtown businesses because of the economic value represented by multiple customers using the same parking space. One professional downtown analyst has estimated that a parking space in front of a retail establishment can be worth $300,000 in sales per year.
No. First, we heard over 2,000 points of feedback saying that parking is a top frustration or concern in the downtown. As a result, the Downtown Parking Plan recommended adopting a paid parking program.
We then hired a firm that specializes in parking planning to help us understand the needs and challenges unique to St. Joseph and our downtown.
Then, as we held meetings and drafted details of our downtown parking program, we listened to feedback from social media, emails, phone calls, Commission meetings and meetings with downtown business owners and employees.
This input all shaped the parking program.
You never have to pay to park on or east of Main Street. West of Main Street, paid parking will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., only from May 15 to September 15.
Parking on and east of Main Street is always free. West of Main Street, parking is $1/hour in surface lots and $2/hour on-street. Visitors can park for 15 minutes up to the maximum time allowable.
Parking outside of the downtown remains free.
Residents can park for free year-round on and east of Main Street. If a resident chooses to park west of Main Street, they will have to pay for parking between May 15 and September 15. However, residents can receive a waiver if they live downtown and do not have dedicated parking serving their residence.
Click here for more information.
Employees can park for free year-round on and east of Main Street or outside of the downtown. Parking is also free everywhere from mid-September to mid-May. During the busy season, there are still over 1,000 free parking spaces within a short walk of the downtown!
Downtown employees with mobility issue making less than 300% of Area Median Income (AMI) will be eligible for a waiver to park free in the all-day lots west of Main Street.
For more information click here.
The on-street program area, west of Main Street, is expected to experience greater turnover and increased parking availability. This means that those with mobility needs are more likely to find a parking space closer to their destination. Parking west of Main Street requires payment for all vehicles, from May 15 to September 15.
For more information on employee waivers, click here.
If you park west of Main Street from May 15 to September 15, between 9AM and 9PM - yes. However, The Downtown Parking Program will be in effect from May 15 to September 15, from 9:00am–9:00pm. Parking on and east of Main Street is free-year round.
Yes! There are more than a dozen free, 30-minute parking spaces on downtown streets west of Main Street. These spaces are perfect for running a quick errand downtown.
In addition, the residential streets south of downtown remain free all day parking.
No! Drivers can pay for as little as 15 minutes of parking at a time.
No! The Library has a free surface parking lot for library patrons only. We've also ensured that spaces on Market Street next to the Library are free and reserved for library patrons only.
Parking on the residential streets south and east of the Library will also continue to be free at all times.
A Parking Benefits District has been established, which requires 80% of the net parking revenue be invested into improvements in this district. That includes aesthetic improvements, maintenance improvements, pedestrian-friendly amenities. The other 20% of net revenue will go into the General Fund to provide other City services.
We expect all implementation costs to be covered within the first season of the program.
You can see the guiding vision behind future downtown investment in our Downtown Vision Master Plan.
The new program is an action-based plan designed to address congestion and the lack of parking availability.
The City is committed to understanding how the program might be refined in the future, and your continued feedback is important.
Downtown businesses can continue to load/unload in the alleys that serve their businesses. For delivery vehicles and personal vehicles being actively loaded/unloaded in a paid space, the City’s Public Safety Officers will use their discretion when enforcing posted regulations. The Department of Public Safety's intent is to support local businesses.
Please share your feedback by calling the City at 269-983-5541 or by sending an email to info@sjcity.com.
Upcoming Events
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05/23/2025 (All day)
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05/23/2025 - 12:00pm
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05/24/2025 - 9:00am
Contact Information
Address:
700 Broad Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone:
(269) 983-5541
Fax:
(269) 985-0346