Hope they do something about the parking before customers get frustrated and leave for good - took me 30 mins to find parking on Saturday night -

Sarah -- Sadly they most like did not underestimate as this is what the new "walkable communities" is promoting. Not very many parking spaces as they are expecting everyone to walk to these businesses. I don't understand why developers and city officials think less parking is a good thing. Same thing is going to happen in College Park when the businesses open up in the new student housing high rises.

I share in the frustration of not having enough parking and also the frustration of having the complicated parking situations that we see in other nearby developments. For the Route 1 corridor, the city has recently funded the development of nearby city-owned lots which will hopefully alleviate some of the parking problems. I believe it is important to support these new businesses with our available resources. It will take a bit of time, but hang in there as best you can.

I always walk the half-mile from my house to Busboys and Poets, Yes! Organic Market, and all the others, but I do believe we should have parallel parking on Route 1 during non-peak hours. Adding parallel parking to a street that has none is just about the only decision that can benefit both drivers and pedestrians alike. An interesting outcome might actually be that more people feel comfortable walking and bicycling to the Arts District with a Route 1 calmed by the presence of parallel parking. SHA has stated they would grant the request if the City made it. Do it, Tim!

P.S. is the parking lot between Beds To Go/The Professional/Celina Grocery and Renaissance Square a city-owned lot? Could people park by the elementary school in the evenings? Both of those lots are easily within walking distance. The last thing our city needs is more surface parking lots. The block bound by Rt 1, Jefferson, 43rd, and Hamilton is already nearly 50% asphalt.

Two city-owned lots in the area bounded by Jefferson, Hamilton, Route 1 and 43rd Ave. are part of what is currently being developed. These lots will be able to provide parking for 103 vehicles. Other options include parking on Route 1, creating agreements with lots that are privately owned, etc. The city will need to work with the surrounding community to figure out what will work and maybe look at further options. I am advocating that this be a high priority.

What about walking a few blocks from the city lot @ Franklins?

are people allowed to park in dematha's lots on evenings and weekends?

I was there Saturday afternoon and while parking was tight for the car crowd it wasn't impossible. I think the short walk from the public lot near Franklin's is a good choice, although the picture of my bike above shows how I handled it, but I am trying not to just hop in the car all of the time. With YES being open now, and a few more restaurants on the way it will probably be even tougher at peak times in the future.

I'm moving from Takoma Park to West Hyattsville - a lot closer, but still generally a car trip to that area. I hadn't been to Elevation Burger since BB&P opened, and was shocked at how packed the street between the two and the already inconvenient lot on the other side of Chipotle were at 7 p.m. on a Monday. No wonder EB is running the $6 meal deal so often on Facebook - I bet they're losing a lot of business, not necessary to BB&P but because the congestion is so off-putting.

You missed the point - the fact that Elevation Burger is constantly offering a $6 deal, on what you could pay double that for without the deal, means that their business is hurting. Obviously there's a lot of money getting spent, but I don't remember that deal ever before BB&P opened there, so my impression is that the congestion is hurting Elevation's business.