BOSTON – This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a hearing order to discuss building a parking garage on the West Broadway Municipal Lot in South Boston. For years, during budget season, Councilor Flynn and residents have called attention to the need for a parking garage at this site to not only provide support for our small business community, but also provide relief for neighbors when it comes to South Boston’s existing parking crisis.

Over the last several decades, South Boston has experienced unprecedented growth, with many large scale projects having been completed and others currently in the pipeline. In addition, South Boston has developed into as much a destination for young people to frequent our restaurants and establishments on the weekends as Downtown and Faneuil Hall. Moreover, there is also a nearby proposal at the vacant former bank building next door that would also fill the critical need for courtrooms, offices, and support space for use by the Trial Court of Commonwealth.

At the very same time, there are both no resident parking restrictions in place when this influx of cars arrive on the weekends. Residents continue to call attention to South Boston’s existing parking crisis, resident parking only being in place (4) nights per week, having sufficient parking at new housing developments, and restricting resident parking permits for these buildings to prevent an overflow of cars that would worsen the existing parking crisis for current residents.

At the City Council, Councilor Flynn noted nearby examples to review – including MassPort’s South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center, which currently offers community benefits such as resident parking during snow storms, along with other municipalities that may provide discounted rates for residents.

“South Boston neighbors, our small businesses and I know the demand for parking in our neighborhood. Constructing a parking garage at this site, similar to others in our city and nearby towns, would provide the dual benefit of supporting our small business community, and relief for our residents when it comes to our existing parking crisis,” said Councilor Flynn. “I will continue to advocate this budget season on this issue to help provide parking relief for my neighbors and to support our local economy.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or [email protected].