https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2007-05-10/473898/

Pay up for Parking

By Wells Dunbar, May 10, 2007, 2:35pm, Newsdesk

On the municipal Monopoly board, no more landing on free parking, says the Austin Business Journal:

Word came from city officials today that the parking lot underneath City Hall will be converted to a pay lot on June 4. Still, visitors to City Hall itself won't be charged with a validated ticket nor will those who shop on Second Street, provided they decide to buy something and get their ticket stamped.

Parking will still be free all day on Thursdays when the City Council meets and from 11am to 1:15pm Fridays for the city-sponsored Live From The Plaza concerts.

The words had gotten out, as what used to be ample parking had filled up in recent months – never mind that the parking was supposed to be free for only a few months after City Hall's opening. It's long been our suspicion that the parking was open to help subsidize the sellers on Second Street, which, having helped build the district, the city has a stake in seeing succeed. The fact their customers can still park for free apparently bears this out.