Charlottesville Parking Center

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The Charlottesville Parking Center is a private company originally established in 1959 to manage parking facilities in Charlottesville's downtown.[1]

For many years, the CPC worked with the City of Charlottesville to provide parking for visitors to downtown Charlottesville but the relationship changed soon after Charlottesville entrepreneur Mark Brown purchased the company in August 2014. [2]

Current assets

CPC owns the Water Street Parking Garage and a portion of the spaces in the structure. For instance, CPC purchased 106 spaces from Wells Fargo in October 2015. [citation needed]

CPC also owns the surface lot adjacent to the Water Street Parking Garage and leases it to Woodard Properties who in turn have a sublease to the city's Parks and Recreation Department for the City Market.

The company previously managed the city-owned Market Street Parking Garage and other spaces in the city. [1]

Sale in 2014 and acquisition of more of Water Street Garage

In August 2014, Charlottesville entrepreneur Mark Brown became CPC's owner, purchasing the company for $13.8 million. The purchase price of $34 per share for the 407,309 shares was approved at a CPC shareholders meeting on August 4 and closed on August 12. [3] [4][dead link]

At the time, Brown retained Bob Stroh as CPC's general manager. Stroh had worked for the company for many years and provided stability during the transition.

Travel Demand Management System

In January 2015, CPC began a campaign to create a unified travel demand management system that would include parking in garages, on-street parking, taxi cabs, and buses. One of the companies whose technology might be used is Flow Thru Technologies. [citation needed]

Norris hired as CPC manager

Former Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris was hired to the general manager in March 2016. [5] [6]

City officials questioned Norris' qualifications to do the job, stating that he did not have six months of experience in parking management. [7]

CPC launches legal fight against Charlottesville

CPC filed suit against the Charlottesville in March 2016 claiming that the city has kept rates at the Water Street Parking Garage below market rate. CPC sought $1 million in damages as well as an injunction against the city allowing CPC to raise the rates. [2]

In April, Mark Brown hinted that CPC might close the Water Street garage at the end of the fiscal year if the dispute was not resolved. [8] He also asked the city to sell him their interests in the Water Street garage. [9]

The city filed a countersuit in late April 2016 claiming breach of contract when CPC purchased 106 spaces from Wells Fargo. [10]

Judge Richard E. Moore denied a petition from the CPC to allow an emergency received at a hearing on June 28, 2016. [11]

The city turned down a settlement offer in July 2016. [12]

CPC filed another suit against the city in March 2017 claiming that the city assessor refused to assess the value of the land on which the Water Street garage is built. [13]

As of late April 2017, the city has spent over $117,000 on outside legal fees related to the suits. [14]

Statistics

Year Transient parkers
2006 717,000
2008 552,000
2009 526,000

[15] [16]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Web. Charlottesville Parking Center - About Us, archive.org, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. Charlottesville Parking Center files lawsuit against Charlottesville, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 14, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  3. Web. Brown’s buy: Charlottesville Parking Center sale finalized, Courteney Stuart, News Article, C-Ville Weekly, August 12, 2014, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  4. E-mail. John Kelly. "Mark Brown Press Release - CPC Acquisition." Message to Brian Wheeler. 12 Aug 2014.
  5. Web. Charlottesville Parking Center Announces Appointment of Former Mayor Dave Norris as General Manager, Press Release, Charlottesville Parking Center, March 28, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  6. Web. Norris to run downtown parking center, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 28, 2016, retrieved January 1, 2017.
  7. Web. City pushes back on parking company’s hiring of Norris, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 4, 2016, retrieved July 9, 2024.
  8. Web. Management could close Water Street garage over suit, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, April 19, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  9. Web. CPC owner asks city to sell interest in Water Street Garage, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 28, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  10. Web. City files countersuit against Charlottesville Parking Center, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 29, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  11. Web. Judge denies CPC’s petition for emergency third-party receiver, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, June 28, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  12. Web. City Council Response to CPC Settlement Proposal, Press Release, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 7, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  13. Web. CPC Manager Suing City Assessor over Water Street Parking Garage, Henry Graff, News Article, WVIR NBC 29, Charlottesville, March 30, 2017, retrieved April 29, 2017.
  14. Web. Outside Legal Counsel Over $117K for Charlottesville Parking Lawsuit, Henry Graff, News Article, WVIR NBC 29, April 28, 2017, retrieved April 29, 2017.
  15. Web. Economic brake felt by downtown parking company, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, April 12, 2009, retrieved June 19, 2014.
  16. Web. Fewer parkers: CPC reveals third straight drop, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, March 25, 2010, retrieved June 19, 2014. Print. April 1, 2010 , 0913, .

External links