VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — George Kotarides with the Atlantic Avenue Association says when it comes to parking, especially during peak demand times in Virginia Beach, locals say there are two ongoing problems.
Kotarides said, “I say the two primary complaints about parking ... One is I couldn’t find a parking space and the other is it was too expensive.”
That’s why the Atlantic Avenue Association proposed three ideas to improve the parking landscape on the oceanfront.
They include a new Virginia Beach resident parking program established by April, 600 new spaces near the Oceanfront between 17th & 21st streets by July 2026, and 600 additional new spaces in that same area by July 2027.
“These are just suggestions. The city has their own timeline, and it’s a big city. There’s priorities all over, but it is about the entire city,” says Kotarides.
Even though some Virginia Beach residents say parking might be hurting locals, some tourists think the prices are reasonable. Richter Hill, visiting from New York, offered his take on Virginia Beach oceanfront parking.
Hill said, “It was pretty convenient. For upstate New York sometimes it can be cheaper [than here] like five bucks or upwards to $15 for certain events.”
A City of Virginia Beach spokesperson said they understood the public's parking concerns but also pointed to the nearly the 1,500 parking spaces in three parking garages, more than 300 spots at parking lots near the oceanfront, and roughly 680 metered spots.
That city spokesperson also asked people to weigh in at The Atlantic Avenue Improvement Public Engagement Session. It will be on Dec. 5 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.