Matthews refuses railroad company’s ‘money grab’ to charge more for free downtown parking
Matthews leaders are publicly criticizing a company that will get rid of a quarter of the town’s free parking spaces after offering a much-higher price to keep them cost-free.
Transportation company CSX approached leaders at the town of Matthews earlier this year with demands the town pay $130,000 annually to continue using nearly 200 parking spaces located on CSX’s right-of-way, Mayor John Higdon said. The town previously paid only $800 a year, according to its website. But CSX’s new terms were clear: pay 162 times more for the parking spaces, or lose access to them entirely in October, Higdon said.
“They approached us with the ridiculous request to pay them 16,000% more than we do currently for some free public parking that we’ve had for decades, and Matthews also has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain and beautify, ” Higdon told The Charlotte Observer. “We just feel like it was an indefensible move on their part, just a money grab.”
The parking spaces, which sit along Old Depot Lane, West Charles Street and East Charles Street, account for 28% of the town’s downtown parking spaces, said Becky Hawke, the town manager.
The proposal from CSX also included a 30-day cancellation clause and a 3% annual increase over the $130,000, according to the town’s website. Because the town refused, CSX will now turn the spaces over to a private company that will charge people to park, according to the town of Matthews and CSX.
“CSX received an unsolicited offer from a third-party to lease the subject property that included better liability and indemnity protection for CSX,” a spokesperson told The Observer. “While discussing the new offer with the Town of Matthews, CSX was unable to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.”
Paying CSX $130,000 and more a year would be a waste of taxpayers’ money, Higdon said.
It’s unclear what will happen with the spaces on Oct. 11, Higdon said, but the town is working to secure lease agreements with local businesses and developers that have private lots in order to offer new free parking spaces. He said the town expects to replace the same number of parking spots that are being displaced by the change overtime.
Higdon said the town is committed to offering free parking for residents and visitors downtown. Parking enforcement has become a profit-driven business in other regions, he said, and it takes away the charm of a town.
“It’s just kind of a hassle,” Higdon said. “We’ve never had it ever in Matthews since 1879 and we don’t intend to start now.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
