#

Back

Wilmington Street Parking Deck Sale Raises Concerns

Wilmington Street Parking Deck Sale Raises Concerns

by | Jun 25, 2026 | Buzz, July/August 2026

Update July 2, 2026: The Wilmington Street Station Parking Deck won’t be sold—for now.

The offer to purchase the popular Downtown parking deck has been withdrawn, so City Council will no longer consider the proposed sale. The move follows an outpouring of public concern from business owners, employees and Downtown visitors over the future of one of Raleigh’s busiest public parking decks.

In a statement, the City said: “We can confirm the offer to purchase the Wilmington Street garage was withdrawn. We recognize the offer created a lot of conversation in the community. We also recognize that this offer potentially provided opportunities to address the City’s stated goal to improve the financial stability of our parking program. As the City grows, we continue to look for efficiencies in our systems so that our residents’ tax dollars deliver the highest level of services for the City.”

What’s next remains to be seen. It’s unclear whether the city will continue looking for another buyer. In the meantime, it’s business as usual: The city-owned garage remains under city control, and the two-hour free parking program stays in place.

Stay tuned for updates.

ORIGINAL PUBLICATION:

A buyer has shown interest in purchasing the Wilmington Street deck—putting free DTR parking on the line.

Downtown parking is in jeopardy again. The City of Raleigh is seeking approval from Council to move forward on selling the Wilmington Street Station Parking Deck—a move that already has sparked concerns from DTR businesses and employees.

Not only is the deck used for patrons visiting surrounding spots like Marbles, Landmark and Centro, but it has the highest usage of all decks participating in the free two-hour parking program, and ~50% of Small Business parking permits are used there.

Downtown Raleigh Alliance President/CEO Bill King says it is likely the new undisclosed owners would make it a 24/7 paid deck, stressing the sale would have a negative effect on nearby businesses—and Downtown as a whole. “This would be a big blow to Downtown,” he emphasizes. “We can’t afford to have fewer people visiting this area.”

The Transportation Department originally intended to put out an RFI on the Wilmington Street deck in the spring to gauge interest in selling the facility, but during the preparation, the City received an offer to purchase the deck outright. Now foregoing the RFI and public input, the City is asking Council for approval at the July 7 meeting to start the statutory upset-bid process.

The move comes after a handful of City-proposed efforts to offset the projected $8 million FY27 budget shortfall in its parking fund. Changes increasing off- and on-street parking while keeping the first two hours free in select decks will be implemented as soon as Aug. 1.

While those increases were allegedly supposed to cover the budget shortfall, City of Raleigh Public Information Officer Julia Milstead says, “Even with proposed increases to hourly, daily and monthly rates as part of the City’s adopted FY27 budget, there still remains a gap in funding to support the ongoing maintenance and operational needs [of these structures],” pointing to the deck’s “tax burden” on residents. 

“We want to serve every child, regardless of income, financial status or resources. We’re trying to be as accessible [as possible] so that every child who wants to come to Marbles can—so having that deck right across the street is hugely impactful for us.” —Jonathan Frederick, Marbles Kids Museum

Marbles Kids Museum CEO Jonathan Frederick, who opposes the sale, stresses the deck is a critical source of free, accessible parking—and selling it would cause potential long-term impacts on both Marbles and the vitality of Downtown.

“Everyone that operates something down here really, really appreciates having that deck nearby—and what the city has done with the two hours free,” he says, adding that over half of Marbles’ guests use the Wilmington Street deck. “Eliminating this option creates real barriers—especially for families traveling with young children—and cannot be replaced by parking blocks away or with routes through the bus station.” Not to mention, he adds, a paid deck may price families out, leading to a drop in visitation and a threat to Marbles’ business model. 

DRA is calling on the City to at least finish the parking study before selling. “We encourage the City to take the time to fully understand the value of each deck,” stresses King, “and to do the ground work and get public opinion before making any decision.”

Emailing City Council can also make a difference. Voice your opinions via [email protected]. 

City of Raleigh Proposes DTR Parking Changes

City of Raleigh Proposes DTR Parking Changes

by | Mar 27, 2026 | April 2026, Buzz

Proposed DTR parking policies are causing a stir.

Parking is the lifeblood for Downtown—no question about it. Not just for residents, employees and out-of-towners, but for small businesses that rely on people venturing Downtown to spend money.

Now, proposed changes to Raleigh’s parking policies are meeting mounting backlash—from both DTR regulars and would-be visitors—as well as the local shops, restaurants, bars and fitness studios that depend on them.

The City of Raleigh presented three different options to Council in March to offset the projected $8 million FY27 budget shortfall in its parking fund—a deficit six years in the making. City staff ultimately favored a proposal that would increase parking rates, reduce free parking options and introduce new costs for some Downtown businesses (see callout box).

Staff positioned the price hikes alongside other areas of the city they said were also considering raising parking rates, though those centers were quick to shut down the rumors (see below). 

Council members pushed back on the proposals: Mitchell Silver stressed one hour of free parking simply isn’t enough, while Megan Patton went so far as to call all three options “nuclear.” Their concerns reflect what’s at stake, as Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s free two-hour parking pilot has generated ~$3.8M in annual spending across the five participating decks.

Artspace CEO Carly Jones tells RM that visitors frequently point to DTR parking as a persistent challenge. The free two-hour parking, she says, has been a huge lift for Artspace and surrounding art organizations.

Now, that incentive is in jeopardy. And DRA is sounding the alarm: “We believe the proposal is way too aggressive, would have a dramatic impact on Downtown’s economy—and we do not support its implementation,” stresses DRA President and CEO Bill King. “Our storefronts are 90% locally owned and need their customers to be able to have easy and affordable access, or they will simply go to many other options around the city and region for dining and shopping.”

King adds parking costs affect the ability to lease DTR office space, attract visitors and maintain a vibrant core—and that more modest, incremental changes could accomplish the city’s goals without harming the economy. 

“The scope and breadth of these proposed changes are simply too much at one time for an economy that still needs help,” he says.

DRA is encouraging residents and stakeholders to share their opinions with Council before new policies take effect in January. Meanwhile, the City is working on an RFP for a parking study to guide decisions on which facilities to keep, eliminate or allocate to private markets. In April, new recommendations will be brought back to Council in private small-group meetings held out of the public eye.

For now, the debate over how—and how much—to charge for parking Downtown is far from settled. In the meantime, it’s crucial to make your voice—and opinions—heard. 

Have thoughts? Email [email protected]

Current City-Recommended Parking Changes

Off-Street Deck Parking
Monthly parking spot $135
(up from $125)

Move to 24/6 (every day but Sunday)
and increase hourly rate by $2–3

Reduce two-hour free parking
program to just one hour

Increase Small Business Downtown
Parking Relief program from
$0 to $60 per month

On-Street Parking
Increase rates from $1.25 to $2.50/hour,  keep existing hours (Mon.–Fri. 8am–6pm)

Parking Policies Around Town

Raleigh Iron Works
The City cited upcoming parking price hikes for RIW, but Grubb Ventures insists that’s not the case. The up-and-coming development offers free public parking in both retail surface lots and the garage—and “this is not set to change in the near future,” a spokesperson tells RM. 

Village District 
Despite comments during the work session, the center says it has no plans to introduce paid parking. “Village District remains committed to offering parking at no cost and supporting a welcoming, accessible experience for everyone who visits,” GM Brooke Conn tells RM. Current measures include no overnight or student parking, two-hour limits at storefront spaces and requires patrons be on-site while parked.

North Hills
The Midtown shopping center requires all vehicles to register to park via its Power Parking system in the North Hills Innovation District, the Bank of America Tower deck and Park District’s street-level parking. Failure to do so may result in a $35 fine. The policy includes three hours of free parking for patrons, easy paid extensions, as well as dedicated parking access for tenants, residents and employees.