Believe it or not — parking is easy in Downtown Coral Gables.
Yes, you heard correctly, with plenty of metered parking, several valet stations and six garages at affordable rates, Downtown Coral Gables offers convenient options.
In addition to these options, did you know that Downtown Coral Gables is the only city that offers Centralized Valet Parking? Or as I like to call it, Downtown Coral Gables’ best kept secret. So what exactly is Centralized Valet Parking? Let’s just say that if you don’t want to worry about looking for parking, spare change or parking tickets, then our convenient Centralized Valet Parking System on Miracle Mile is what you were looking for.
Our revolutionary centralized parking system allows you to drop off your car at any one of five valet stations on Miracle Mile and pick up your car at the station of your choice. The five locations of the valet stations are: between Hillstone and JohnMartin’s, in front of Tarpon Bend, between Benihana and Ortanique, between Morton’s and Ale House, and in front of Seasons 52.
Let me put it this way, the days of circling around the block are over. Want to stay for the day, do some shopping or meet friends for brunch or happy hour? Pull up and drop off your car at any station on the map, and when you’re done with your night, or done shopping, or decide to go to dinner after the theater or cinema, you can pick it up at the one nearest to you.
The best part is that parking costs for this Concierge Valet service are only $8 and free for disabled patrons with permits. No cash for valet? No worries, you can now pay for centralized valet fees and tip with CurbStand, a cashless valet mobile application you can download on your smartphone. To download go to https://curbstand.com/.
In 2014 alone, the parking system moved approximately 60,000 cars off of Miracle Mile, leaving the coveted onstreet spaces open for short-term parkers.
So how does the system work? The radio communication system used by the valet attendants is what keeps the centralized valet parking running smoothly. When you drop off your car at one station, you get a ticket stub that is coded to show the location of your drop off. When you hand that ticket to an attendant at a different station, he or she calls the original station to pick up your car and drive it to the new location.
Miracle Mile’s longstanding centralized valet parking system will now be more important than ever when the construction phase of the anticipated Coral Gables Streetscape project begins in January 2016. During construction, the valet system will be subsidized to make it easy for patrons to come and continue to experience and enjoy all the great amenities our downtown offers.
The centralized valet parking began in 2006 as a result of a partnership between the City of Coral Gables and the Business Improvement District of Coral Gables. For additional information on parking options or Streetscape please visit www.shopcoralgables.com.
Marina Foglia is the executive director of the Business Improvement District of Coral Gables which promotes commercial vitality for Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables through marketing and advertising, and acts as a strategic catalyst for the overall improvement of the area. She may be reached at mfoglia@shopcoralgables.com.
