CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Drivers downtown will see some parking garage rate increases starting Oct. 1.
Charleston County officials announced price changes to county garages, including locations in the downtown area, on Aug. 18.
Current rates at the King and Queen Garage on 85 King St. are $1 for every 30 minutes, with a daily maximum price of $20. Drivers who lost their parking ticket would pay $30 per day.
Monthly rates include a $145 fee on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The monthly fee for drivers with 24/7 access is $195.
The price changes below will begin on Oct. 1:
New transient rates for all county garages:
$1 per 20 minutes
$24 daily max
$50 lost ticket fee
New monthly rates (24/7 access):
King and Queen Garage (85 King St.): $215 per month
Cumberland Garage (90 Cumberland St.): $175 per month
County spokesperson Chloe Field says the changes come after a comprehensive market analysis that found the prices were inconsistent with market value.
“Charleston County is committed to keeping our parking garages safe, reliable, and well-maintained for everyone who uses them.” Field says. “These updates will not only create consistent pricing across all downtown garages but also provide the revenue needed to sustainably cover operating costs and critical maintenance, ensuring we can continue to offer dependable parking options for residents and visitors alike.
Downtown service industry workers, including Duke Kroger, feel the increase in prices adds to the hurdles workers face.
“It’s already hard enough being in the industry downtown and then knowing that the rates are going up, it makes it even harder,” Kroger said. “There’s less and less places to park. It’s very oversaturated as it is, even on the weekends when it’s free parking, it’s almost impossible to find something,” Kroger continues. “So you’re kind of left to pay for parking, and now even that’s going up. So, it’s just another hurdle in the industry.
Reilley Siroys made the recent decision to leave the downtown area service industry as a result of parking fees.
“I used to work at the Mill’s House, and I changed because parking just got too much,” Siroys says. “I spend probably like $200 on parking. I live in Summerville, and it’s going to be well worth it in Summerville. I think the money is nice down here, but it’s not worth it for the parking.”
Siroys believes more price increases could lead to other workers making the decision to relocate as well.
“I think a lot of people are going to start moving away from the tourism business and probably go to other places like West Ashley or Summerville just because the parking is just so much for employees,” Siroys says. “We just don’t get that luxury of not paying for it.”
She feels parking discounts would be helpful in keeping service workers in the area.
“We should get a little bit of discount at least for employees, that way we can feed the tourism instead of going away from it,” Siroys says.
Kroger agrees on the solution.
“I think at least for industry workers downtown,” Kroger says. “I mean, we make a huge percentage of downtown workers. Hotels, independent restaurants, there’s really nothing where a lot of cities like Savannah have incentives for workers. Pipe dreams.”
Patrons with questions can contact the Parking Office at parking@charlestoncounty.org.