CINCINNATI — Visitors traveling into Over-the-Rhine can now pay for valet parking, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) announced this week.
The private non-profit development corporation said parking has been "one of the most common hurdles" for people coming to OTR for food, shopping or entertainment. The new valet service, located in the 1300 block of Vine Street, will allow people to drop off their vehicles instead of searching for a spot.
"So we recently decided that we thought it would be a really valuable asset to add valet parking in Over-the-Rhine. So we got with the city of Cincinnati and went through all the necessary steps and decided, and we pulled it together in about a month," said Emily Stowe, director of marketing for 3CDC.
Watch: How people are reacting to the addition of valet parking
The timing wasn't coincidental. 3CDC specifically targeted Valentine's Day weekend for the launch, knowing restaurants would be well-booked.
While people must drop their car off at the Vine Street stations, 3CDC said they will soon be able to text or call the valets to have their vehicle brought to them within the service boundary — essentially between Race and Walnut streets east to west, from 15th to 12th streets north to south. 3CDC did not confirm when this feature will become available.
In a social media post Friday, 3CDC said they are "unable" to execute the text or call feature due to "staffing and technology issues."
David Bray, who frequently visits Over-the-Rhine, said he sees the value in the convenience.
"Parking's at a premium, right? I mean, it's hard to find a spot down here. You have to walk wherever you're going and then walk back to your car. This makes it too easy," Bray said.
Bray's wife, Kathy, agreed the service could encourage more visits to the area.
"Oh, I might suggest to come down here, and he'll say, 'Well, where do we park?' so then we end up nixing things, so I think that we might be more likely to come down here knowing this," Kathy Bray said.
The service is available Sundays through Thursdays from 4-10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 4-11 p.m. The cost is listed as a flat fee of $10.
"Our goal has always been to make Over-the-Rhine as welcoming and accessible as possible,” Christy Samad, 3CDC's executive vice president of Civic & Commercial Space Activation, said in a release. "By offering a reliable, affordable valet option every night of the week, we’re adding another amenity to this vibrant neighborhood.”
Stowe acknowledged that Mercer Garage has available capacity, especially on weekdays, making it an ideal location for the service.
"It's not full all the time, especially on those weekdays, so we already have the space. So, we're always looking for a way to make the neighborhood, OTR, the Fountain District, more approachable," Stowe said.
3CDC will take a financial loss on the service, as the $10 flat fee won't cover the full cost of operating valets. However, the organization views it as an investment in bringing more people to the area.
On-street parking is also available throughout the neighborhood, with lots and garages offering additional spaces. You can see the City of Cincinnati's OTR parking map, which breaks down where metered and residential parking are, here.
The locations of additional lots and garages can be found here. You can still park in the Mercer Garage without paying for valet service.
Additionally, people can park and ride the streetcar, which is free, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. To find the streetcar's route and stops, click here.
