The City of London is offering free on-street parking during December in the Old East Village shopping district on Dundas Street.
Orest Katolyk, the city's bylaw enforcement manager, says "In the Old East Village on Dundas Street between Adelaide and Ontario there will be free two-hour parking for the entire month of December."
There are individual meters with specially marked meter caps located inside.
Local business owners are happy to hear about the incentive in an area that is slowly being revitalized.
Helen Bierman at All 'Bout Cheese says, "For the public it makes shopping easier...It also benefits us because they'll [shop] in a more relaxed fashion and be able to check the shops out."
Ward 4 Councillor Jesse Helmer believes it's a great opportunity to get both Londoners and visitors to the city to put the area on their shopping list.
"Having that on-street parking right in front of the businesses, it's part of the unique feel of that area, and to make it free I think it opens it up for new customers to come down to check out the area to see what's new and what's going on."
This year there is no free parking in London's downtown core in part, Katolyk explains, because "We have found that a lot of the free parking was taken up by people that work downtown, that paid for parking."
Instead revenue from downtown meters in December will go toward a retail recruitment program in the area.
Officials are reminding motorists that the free parking does not apply to overnight parking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. or off-street parking lots and all other parking regulations must be followed.
Paid parking is applicable in all other areas of the city. For more information please call 519-661-4537 or email parkingenforcement@london.ca
