GREENFIELD — Economic Development Committee members have described a proposal to create a Parking Benefit District, which would allocate a portion of funds generated by parking meters and paid parking spots to improvements in the Central Commercial District, as a “no-brainer.”

The idea, proposed by Community and Economic Development Director Amy Cahillane and Greenfield Business Association Director Hannah Rechtschaffen, would help fund downtown improvements at the discretion of the committee. Revenue from parking tickets would not be used in this manner.

Rechtschaffen said the parking district would ultimately serve as a magnet for business and tourism downtown. She noted that the parking funds could be used for public art installations, improved parking meters or sidewalk cleanups, and would have a “cyclical impact” on economic development.

“When we clean up the downtown, when we add public art, when we really pay attention to that main business hub, it’s attracting tourism, it’s attracting residents downtown,” Rechtschaffen said. “We start to attract more visitation that allows us to bring more businesses, bring more development.”

In fiscal year 2024, Cahillane told the committee that Greenfield’s parking meters, kiosks and funds collected through the Passport parking app brought in approximately $244,500. She noted that creation of a Parking Benefit District was not referenced in the city’s 2023 parking study simply because Stantec, the consulting firm that conducted the study, did not prioritize it.

Cahillane added that the parking district’s creation would help the city provide local matches on state grant-funded revitalization projects.

“[The Stantec consultants] were just prioritizing other action items for Greenfield at that moment in time, but they thought that a Parking Benefit District was a good idea,” Cahillane said. “This feels to me like a great time for it to be coming before us, because I think we have, albeit circuitously, traveled the loop of talking about it. ... I’m thrilled that the city is open to making this investment.”

Although no votes were taken on the proposed parking district, Economic Development Committee members expressed unanimous support for it, with Precinct 2 City Councilor Rachel Gordon referring to it as a “fantastic idea” that would help revitalize downtown Greenfield. At-Large City Councilor Wahab Minhas also praised the proposal, noting that he was particularly glad the district would not receive funds from residents’ parking tickets.

Mayor Ginny Desorgher also spoke in support, explaining that while the city faces financial restraints and often relies on parking revenue to offset the tax burden, she believes portions of parking revenue should be used for downtown revitalization.

“Both this year and last year, we’ve used $350,000 of parking money to balance the budget. We are using some one-time funds, because that’s sort of what people do when they have some issues. As you know, we’ve been up against it a little bit financially,” Desorgher said. “I think it’s a great idea. It would be a winning part of the business community downtown.”

Precinct 9 City Councilor Derek Helie, who chairs the Economic Development Committee, suggested that signs indicating that downtown projects or art installations were funded using parking revenue would be beneficial for the district. Rechtschaffen echoed his remarks, noting that the program would act as an incentive for local businesses to set up shop in Greenfield’s Central Commercial District.

“Something that it can also engender is more business owners encouraging people to come downtown, because now they recognize that that benefit is coming back to them again,” she said. “When you put it forward, the business owners are so psyched that you’re not suggesting something on their back, but saying to them, ‘Hey, you encourage people to come down here and park downtown.’ This benefits everyone.”

The proposed creation of a Parking Benefit District is expected to be brought before City Council at its May meeting.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.