Parking capacity screens installed in downtown Franklin parking garages are not yet online

PHOTO: A sign at the entrance to the 2nd Avenue parking garage was black on Wednesday morning.//Brooke Wanser

By BROOKE WANSER

On Tuesday, those who came to downtown Franklin noticed new signs installed at the entrances to the 4th and 2nd Avenue garages, projecting the parking space count inside.

But the parking screens were offline on Wednesday, with some screens still being installed in the 2nd Avenue garage.

On Tuesday, some had noted on social media that the signs were giving inaccurate counts, showing free spaces when there were none.

City communications manager Milissa Reierson said the city is not finished installing the signs yet.

After the city discussed a parking study released last fall, the board of mayor and aldermen agreed on some immediate changes, like creating a parking authority and installing signs to show how many spaces are left inside the garages.

The current discussion on shortening the free street parking limit from four to two hours is more contentious and complex.

Aldermen Bev Burger and Brandy Blanton have argued that decreasing the time limit on the free spaces will impede the ability of people to attend church services and other events, like movies at the Franklin Theatre.

Alderman Dana McLendon also said shortening the time limit on the street parking will create a greater conundrum for those who have to be in court, often for a half-day.

The board of mayor and aldermen will continue discussing the other study suggestions, which also include paid parking spaces, during future meetings.