San Antonio’s Blue Star Arts Complex to charge for parking

The perpetually overflowing lot at Blue Star Arts Complex will begin charging for parking in the new year, according to notices the complex circulated during its Dec. 6 First Friday event.

The lot will charge for parking through LAZ Parking’s system, which requires customers to scan a QR code or text a phone number and enter their license plate to pay, according to the notice. Customers who have used LAZ Parking elsewhere, such as the Pearl, will already have their info stored in the system for quicker checkout.

“Yep, the last free parking lot in town is going away!” the notice read. “But don’t despair — rates will be affordable and validations will be available in many cases.”

Shannon Broadnax, vice president of operations at Lifshutz Companies, which manages the Blue Star property, confirmed the change to MySA. However, the business hasn’t yet determined whether it will charge on an everyday basis or just during events.

Broadnax also told MySA the complex hasn’t yet set a date for when the change will go into effect.

In the notice circulated on First Friday, Blue Star officials said the new policy is to ensure those using its parking spaces are actually patronizing businesses inside the complex.

“Sorry, but we are trying to ensure that there are always spaces for Blue Star customers!” the notice added.

Facebook user Ann Enzminger Bronchvag posted the notice to the “We are Southtown” Facebook group with the caption “Curious what neighbors think about this…”

Reactions were mixed, ranging from “THIS SUCKS!!!” to “Yay!”

Commenter John Newsom was in the latter camp. “It’s about time,” he said. “I can’t count how many times I’ve gone to Blue Star and the lot was packed, but the restaurants were empty.”

“It’s gonna end up like the Pearl and probably keep people away,” local DJ and thrifter Scott Kimrey posted.

Broadnax told MySA that her company has installed cameras to monitor the lot so it can determine whether paid parking will be full-time or only during events.

Sounds like more details are yet to come.

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This article appears in Nov 28-29, 2024.