Metropolitan Avenue, with cones laid out due to a film shoot. (via Council Member Robert Holden)
Dec. 17, 2018 By Laura Hanrahan
Council Member Robert Holden is considering putting forth legislation that would increase the fee production companies pay for shooting TV and film—by a whopping 16 times.
The proposed initiative, announced today, is in response to the increased number of shoots in the district that residents say are restricting parking and impeding on local businesses.
Just this morning, for instance, Holden’s office was contacted by a business owner concerned about film crews taking up parking spaces on the bustling Metropolitan Avenue—something the business owner says will undoubtedly affect his business.
via Council Member Robert Holden
According to Holden’s office, parking has been be restricted on more than three blocks adjacent to Metropolitan Avenue on Monday and Tuesday because of the crews.
On Wednesday, additionally, another film crew will be taking up three blocks worth of parking adjacent to Grand Avenue—another busy commercial area in the district.
“It’s already hard enough for local businesses to deal with increased parking meter costs and unfair fines for signage before a film crew takes up several blocks of parking on top of that,” Holden said in a statement. “It’s outrageous that this filming is taking place during the week before Christmas, one of the busiest shopping periods of the year that local companies survive on.”
In an attempt to address the issue, Holden is proposing the permit fee, currently at $300, to be raised to $5,000.
The length of notice given to communities prior to filming, in addition, would also be increased, as the current requirement only requires a four-day notice to the city and a two-day notice to the community board.
Holden said the legislation he’s considering would help small businesses who are losing more than the worth of the film permits because of the parking restrictions.
“My hope is that raising the fee will make production companies more responsible and aware of the effects that their parking restrictions have on nearby businesses” he said.
