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Politics & Government

Downtown Silver Spring Parking Lot Policy Changes Once Again

Patrons need to pay careful attention to two new sets of signs in lot.

Over the past year, the downtown Silver Spring Shopping Center parking lot (the lot adjacent to , , and the new ) has seen many changes to the parking policy.

As of , the lot displayed signage that stated, "Two Hour Parking While Patronizing Whole Foods/Strosniders Shopping Center," yet people would park in the lot and patronize other downtown Silver Spring businesses, and the enforcement was inconsistent much to the frustration of managers at both Stronsiders and Whole Foods Market.

In of last year, there was a new portable sign at the lot’s Wayne Avenue entrance that informed shoppers that they could park and spend up to two hours anywhere in downtown Silver Spring, enforced by on-site security guards issuing time-stamped parking slips to drivers.

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Then, in , the new policy was formalized with permanent signage.

Now, the parking policy has reverted to being for the shopping center only.

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When asked about the policy changes over the past year, Lillian Buie, director of marketing, downtown Silver Spring said “The parking lot is a convenient amenity offered to downtown Silver Spring patrons. Our current parking policy reflects our belief that our shoppers should have a positive experience while visiting the downtown Silver Spring shopping center.”

Whole Foods Market’s store team leader Travis Phaup is pleased with the current policy.

“Whole Foods Market is always focused on our customers and the service we provide them. We know diligent monitoring of the parking lot and efficient turnover of spaces is in the best interest of our customers because it is the feedback they have always given us,” said Phaup.

Security guards from downtown Silver Spring will continue to monitor the lot to make sure that users are not using the spaces to patronize other Silver Spring businesses.

Visitors should also note that the row of parking spaces next to St. Michael the Archangel church has different signage that states “Reserved Parking. Authorized by Permit Only From 6 am to 5 pmMonday-Friday & 6 am to 11pm on Sundays.”

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