One question readers have asked in the past is, will there be paid parking at Pike and Rose like Federal Realty's other town center-style properties, or would it be free like White Flint Mall or Montrose Crossing? The answer is, it is paid parking, using the Easy Pay system (take your ticket on the way in, and keep it with you). There is also free, 2-hour surface parking for the businesses at the corner of Old Georgetown and 355, such as Starbucks.
Businesses will offer parking garage ticket validation (although the Pike & Rose website says the first two hours are flat out free, without mentioning validation). Del Frisco's Grille, for example, will validate parking for 2 hours for you. Sport and Health will give you 2 1/2 hours. The iPic Theaters, opening in November, will give you a bit more for a movie: 3-and-a-half hours. Not enough time?
2 to 3 hours $1.00
3 to 4 hours $2.00
4 to 5 hours $3.00
5 to 24 hours $10.00
One other interesting point is that the garage uses the green/red overhead lighting system, like the Rockville Town Square garages. Searching for a space? If the lights are all red, head to the next row to find a green one.
Want to handle parking in advance? You can do it online with Parking Panda's Pike and Rose parking reservations and payment system. Although, when testing it as of this writing, it was telling me the parking space would be at the Marriott North Bethesda Convention Center across the street, not at Pike & Rose. The Pike & Rose development is so new, have some patience with the various services that are being phased in. A $5 valet parking service is also scheduled to begin operating after October 1.
Paid parking? They must be kidding. I guess they would prefer I spend money at Montgomery Mall.
ReplyDeletethat was my first thought also but if it is truly free the first two hours and validation provided, it's pretty much free.
DeleteTHE PIPES AND SMOKE DETECTORS IN THE GARAGE AT MONTGOMERY MALL ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS AWESOME AS THE ONES SHOWN HERE!!1!
ReplyDeleteI thought the Montgomery Mall ones were decent.
DeleteAny parking spaces set aside for electric vehicles? The rockville town square garage has them.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like only certain businesses will validate, and if you browse but don't buy anything I assume you are out of luck. Or not?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if you want someone to shop, dine, and watch a movie, you probably shouldn't give them reason to count the hours they spend there.
Yeah I never understood the need to make money off parking versus encouraging buyers to take their time and spend more money. Perhaps a developer can chime in?
DeleteThat being said, the prices do seen very reasonable. Especially compared to DC or meter parking.
2 to 3 hours $1.00
3 to 4 hours $2.00
4 to 5 hours $3.00
The businesses in the Rockville Town Square have always blamed their paid parking system as part of the problems they've had up there.
ReplyDeleteThey say it's confusing, though it's pretty simple to me.