New parking meters to be installed near Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX — Do you have a quarter? The Roosevelt Row area of downtown Phoenix will soon have more metered parking spaces.

About 180 new parking meters will be installed in the area near Garfield, First and Second streets. They were requested by the Roosevelt Row Merchants and the Evans-Churchill Neighborhood associations.

Monica Hernandez, public information officer with the city of Phoenix, said the meters are being added so parking spots are not occupied by the same vehicle all day.

“With the new meters, we are aiming to create turnover so more patrons can have access to those parking spots,” she said.

Multiple parking meters are already installed outside Pomo’s Pizzeria on First Street. General Manager Maurizio Borro said business is still steady despite customers having to pay a couple bucks to park.

“It [doesn’t] affect the business,” Borro said. “It’s pretty good actually.”

The installation of the new parking meters is expected to start in late February. Visitors to the Roosevelt Row area will be able to pay the meters by the traditional coins or with a credit card.

The new meters will allow up to two hours of parking between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. Drivers can park up to four hours on weekdays from 5-10 p.m. and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends.

Even with the new meters being installed, about 500 free parking spaces will remain in the Roosevelt Row area on a first-come, first-serve basis.