Expense report

For a brief time last year, vandalism was the preferred form of outrage over Chicago’s lopsided parking-meter lease deal, steep rate hikes and the tragic death of free Sunday parking. Coin slots were plugged with unidentified goo, spray paint covered display windows, and words like KILL COPS and FUCK YOU were found scrawled in marker. The indignation hasn’t died, but the backlash these days is noticeably less hostile.

In Lakeview, the counterattack is downright constructive: The Central Lakeview Merchants Association (CLMA) is offsetting parking costs for those spending money in the area. Dish out $100 at two or more CLMA businesses between Saturday 28 and September 30, bring the receipts to CLMA’s office, and you’ll get a $10 roll of quarters to feed those insatiable meters.

Sounds like a novelty ten-percent-off coupon, right? CLMA business owners we spoke to say there’s nothing cute about feeling the adverse effects of the rate hike. Stunt or not, they’re hoping the roll-of-quarters rebate inspires people to park and spend. Some proprietors anecdotally report lower sales as Lakeview’s hourly meter rates have risen from 25 cents before the 2008 lease to $1.25 last January. In 2011, it’ll be $1.50. By 2013, eight quarters will be required to park for an hour. “Lakeview does have a problem,” says 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney, who owns the Ann Sather mini chain, including a Lakeview location on Belmont Avenue. “There’s plenty of parking, it’s just that consumers and residents don’t want to pay.” (Neither meter lessee Chicago Parking Meters/LAZ Parking nor the Department of Revenue, which handles collections, responded to requests for statistics on metered parking frequency.)

“People are obviously mad,” says Frank Bandas, owner of Benjamin Moore Paint/J.C. Licht Company (3234 N Clark St, 773-868-0400). “The streets around us are empty where they generally used to be full. It’s not just turnover—it’s vacancy and it’s a drawback.”

Julie Schneider, who owns the women’s clothing boutique Hubba-Hubba (3309 N Clark St, 773-477-1414), says she worries about losing business to the ’burbs. “I don’t want people thinking twice: Should I go shopping in that neighborhood, or should I go to a mall where there’s a huge free lot?”

Others have noticed changes in customer behavior since the price spike. Judy Contino says business at her Bittersweet Pastry Shop (1114 W Belmont Ave, 773-929-1100) has “definitely suffered” as customers who put less time on their meters to save money spend less of both in her café. “It’s become more of a get-in-get-out place,” she says. “Customers used to stop in to pick up a cake but would have a leisurely lunch first. [Pricier parking] takes away from that.”

From a perch behind the counter of his self-identified “hippy boutique” Amigos and Us (3223 N Clark St, 773-281-1812), Jeff Bantz has watched an increasing number of drivers attempting risky maneuvers: parking in the adjacent customers-only Dunkin’ Donuts lot or not paying a meter at all. “As drivers step out into the street,” Bantz says, “the cops are ready to ticket them. That’s very bad for the neighborhood’s reputation.” Bantz adds that he was angered but not surprised to hear about the Department of Revenue memo that surfaced last week in which police brass were told officers haven’t been writing enough tickets.

Last Thursday, Tunney and CLMA director Gus Isacson met at City Hall with Chicago Parking Meters/LAZ Parking to discuss ideas for stimulating 9-to-5 business, such as extending meter time limits from two to three hours to entice more drivers into the area. “I’m looking out the window right now,” Isacson says at 2pm on a Thursday from his Clark Street office. “There are open parking spots everywhere.”

Get your quarter-roll on! Take your receipts to the Central Lakeview Merchants Association (3355 N Clark St, 773-665-2100) Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm.

• More Around Town articles