Lot drives SUV owners mad
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061126892
Fuel-guzzling vehicles would pay more to park
By Jerry Kronenberg and Danielle Rivard
SUV and Jeep owners are seeing red over a planned Hub “green” parking lot that intends to charge customers who drive big vehicles a 10 percent “gas-guzzler” surcharge.
“Whatever car you buy is your choice, and they shouldn’t charge you more because you don’t have a hybrid or because you drive a gas-guzzler,” said Boston resident Christine Degregoria, who drives a Jeep Liberty.
Boston’s Dinosaur Capital Partners has cut a deal with California’s Streetline Inc. to outfit a planned Bulfinch Triangle parking lot with technology that will charge clients based on what they drive.
People who park hybrids or electric cars at the Green Park & Charge lot near TD Garden will get a 10 percent discount on the expected $10-an-hour rate.
But those who drive sport-utility vehicles or other rides that get fewer than 15 miles per gallon will pay a 10 percent penalty.
“We feel strongly that not only is this the right thing to do, but that we’ll attract customers who feel the same way,” Dinosaur Capital’s Scott Oran told the Herald.
“A big SUV has a cost both in terms of the environment and in terms of being a heavier vehicle that causes more wear and tear on our lot,” he said. “We think that should be reflected in our price.”
Dinosaur is spending $1.5 million to build its state-of-the-art facility, which will include four standard parking spaces and eight spots outfitted with free recharging stations for electric cars.
Oran said city officials working with Dinosaur on the project haven’t raised legal objections to the surcharges — even though the government is picking up the $50,000 tab for the charging stations.
“I don’t expect too many SUV owners will be ticked off, because they understand that they’re driving a car that costs more to operate and to park,” Oran said.
But some SUV owners interviewed yesterday in Bulfinch Triangle had their disapproval running on all eight cylinders.
GMC Sierra driver John Roberts said Dinosaur’s pricing plan “is not fair. It’s like they’re trying to make money off of people who are not environmentally conscious.”
However, Jeep Wrangler driver Ryan Reardon said: “I don’t think it’s going to matter really. People with gas-guzzlers will just park somewhere else.”
