As St. Augustine prepares for its famed Nights of Lights celebration this weekend, residents and nearby business owners are at odds over new parking rules on Cincinnati and Rohde avenues, though both sides say they understand each other’s concerns.
The restrictions, in effect through January, reserve street parking for residents during the busy holiday season during set hours.
Similar measures exist in other nearby neighborhoods, but Monday’s City Commission focused on Cincinnati and Rohde, where the dispute between residents and business owners is most acute.
City officials say the changes were developed over the summer after feedback that neighborhood streets were often filled by visitors during peak tourism periods.
Free shuttle service will transport visitors from remote lots to downtown, but the shuttles do not stop in Uptown.
For residents, the new rules provide welcome relief. Ali Birchfield, who lives on Rohde Avenue, said the program has been in planning since May and was carefully designed.
“I love our little businesses in our neighborhood,” she said. “They are truly an asset to our neighborhood. I support them as well as many of my neighbors. That being said, I do not agree with the business model that relies on residential parking to be successful. Most downtown businesses are located downtown in order to capitalize on the walking traffic from the tourists and from the neighborhoods. I do not support any attempt to alter the plan as it is.”
Resident Judy Glazebrook of Rohde Avenue said the city’s efforts help ensure that the neighborhood remains accessible to residents during the busy season. “We want to thank the city for all the work they put towards this program. It’s not new, it’s been worked on for almost six months and the city has really come forward to help the residents out on this particular issue.”
At the same time, business owners expressed concern about the impact on employees and operations. Bruno DiFabio, owner of Bronx House Pizza, said he understand resident frsutrations but worries about staff who must now park several blocks away.
“We absolutely understand the need to protect residents during the busy season, but this decision as written creates real hardship for the people who run and work in the nearby businesses,” he said. “The people who help make St. Augustine lively and welcoming.”
DiFabio said many Uptown businesses lack parking, forcing employees to walk long distances after closing, sometimes carrying cash.
He also cited inconsistent signage, with some signs listing restriction dates and others not: “People may assume restriction is permanent and that could make them never come back to that area again,” he said. “Consistent and clear signage is essential to avoid misunderstanding and long-term damage to this neighborhood’s accessibility.”
DiFabio and other local merchants suggested offering permits for employees to afford them spaces during the event.
Other business owners suggested limiting the parking restrictions to one side of the street.
Commissioner Jim Springfield, who hosted a meeting on the topic that drew 60 people, said merchants asserted that they were unaware of the changes until recently.
Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline pushed back. “I find it hard to believe that 60 people—whose business, whose livelihood is to know what’s going on in the city—did not know,” she said.
City officials emphasized that the program aims to balance residents’ access with support for local businesses.
Commissioner Cynthia Garris said she understood both positions. “That’s between a rock and hard place,” she said. “Something like that you’re not going to make everybody happy. If you try to help the residents because they say they can’t get to their homes, and by the same token, the businesses.”
Ultimately, the city decided to maintain the current plan but said they will remain flexible as the event proceeds.
City Manager David Birchim said adding shuttle stops would run contrary to the initiative’s purpose.
“The intent of the shuttles is to transport people from satellite parking to the VIC (Visitor Information Center) where the Nights of Lights is being staged, not to drop people off in between that,” he said.
The 31st annual Nights of Lights opens with a lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Plaza de la Constitución.
