The hunt for cheap parking on downtown Cincinnati's southern edge is getting tougher.
Construction of Cincinnati's $146.9 million Fort Washington Way project is wiping out small parking lots, sometimes with little warning.
City officials notified about 60 parkers Friday that a small lot just east of the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge at 511 W. Third St. was closing immediately. Officials confirmed Mondaythat a lot across from the bridge at 520 W. Third St. will close by June 30.
In all, more than 220 spaces will be displaced.
The news left commuters like Scott Rink shopping for a new spot for the second time this year.
Mr. Rink, of North College Hill, started parking at the 511 W. Third lot about six months ago after football stadium construction eliminated hundreds of riverfront spots, including his.
"Right now, I don't even know where I'm going to park," said a frustrated Mr. Rink.
"It used to be about howmuch you wanted to pay. It wasn't about finding a spot," he said. "Now it's about finding a spot."
Central Parking System General Manager Jeff Jones has a suggestion: Cinergy Field's parking garage and parking lots.
Mr. Jones said Monday there are between 50 and 100 spaces available in the lots west of the stadium and between 300 and 400 spaces available in the stadium garage.
Central charges $35 a month for spaces on the lots and $45 a month for garage spaces, he said. There also are daily rates available for $1.25 or $2.50 all day on the lots or $3 all day in the garage.
If those spaces fill up, Mr. Jones said Central could make room for another 200 to 300 cars to park on the stadium plaza.
City property manager John Browarsky said officials need the city-owned land on Third Street for the overhaul of Fort Washington Way, downtown's east-west connector.
Mr. Browarsky said construction workers will use some of the land for parking, while the rest of the property will be used for construction staging and equipment storage.
City lawyers required the immediate closing of the lot at 511 W. Third St. after discovering that the parking operator, Third Street Enterprises or TSE, was using the city land without a written agreement to do so, Mr. Browarsky said.
TSE did have a 1993 "right of entry" agreement with the city allowing the company to pave the small lot and stripe it for parking. But that was under the assumption that the city and company would eventually come to a written agreement, and that agreement was never reached, Mr. Browarsky said.
TSE has a written agreement to use the city-owned land for parking at 520 W. Third St., Mr. Browarsky said. The agreement says the city can require the company to vacate the property with 30 days' notice, which the city already gave TSE, he said.
TSE did not return calls seeking comment Monday.
Mr. Rink and other customers who had paid parking fees for June at 511 W. Third St. said TSE has refunded their money.
