Belmont BID pushes for more parking lots on Arthur Avenue

The Belmont Business Improvement District says it’s petitioning for more parking spaces on Arthur Avenue.

The nonprofit has created a petition to ask the city to transfer ownership to them by purchasing the Belmont municipal lot on Hoffman Street from the DOT.

The Belmont BID says it wants to expand the parking lot by implementing a valet system or possibly installing car racks into the lot.

According to the BID, 85 percent of restaurant patrons commute over 5 miles into the area via car primarily due to the fact that the area is located in a public transportation desert. It also says the metered street parking does not have the capacity to serve the outpouring of commuters the neighborhood attracts.

The BID says it would be happy to pay for the lot, but the DOT says it has no plans on selling it. The BID will need to petition the city and gain support from Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The petition is available online, and the BID says it hopes to get 5,000 signatures.