Major changes are on the way for people who park near the St. George Ferry Terminal. It's all to make way for the New York Wheel. But as NY1's Amanda Farinacci explains the news is a headache for commuters.
During the morning rush - there's plenty of action in the parking lots at the St. George Ferry Terminal as commuters who park and ride the ferry drop off their cars and head to work.
But those days are numbered - as lots B and C are set to permanently close on December 9 to accommodate the construction of a parking garage for the New York Wheel.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," said one commuter. "I'm probably going to have to have someone drop me off, or take a bus."
Since construction on the 600-foot observation wheel and the Empire Outlets began earlier this year, there's been plenty of change for ferry riders used to parking at the terminal.
Lot A was completely closed last month.
So called parking stackers with valet service were installed at B and C, causing time consuming backlogs.
Wednesday, Impark, the private parking company that runs the lots, gave drivers more bad news, but offered them the option of five remote lots, with shuttle buses to take them to the terminal every two to three minutes.
"This is a complete disaster and it's affecting the commuters and this is all for the tourists, and we get nothing from this at all," one ferry rider told NY1. "For the next year, we have to park off site, about a mile and a half away, just to commute to work everyday."
"This is an absolute disgrace how they are taking our parking away," another ferry rider said.
The developer says he expects construction on the parking garage to be complete sometime in April, barring any delays, and he's asking commuters to hold on just a bit longer, because he says there is relief in sight.
"We'll have 820 cars of capacity right there, so in many ways, based on the number of people using these lots now, which in total comes to about less than 500, there should be more than ample parking come April 1," said New York Wheel Developer Rich Marin.
Marin also points out many commuters have already started finding other ways to get to the ferry and the number of empty spaces in the lots backs up his claim.
Still, an information session for commuters is planned for December 2, inviting anyone with questions or gripes to stop in and speak with him about their concerns.