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With the initiative, all downtown parking spaces would be in private hands. Parking costs would no longer be controlled by democratic bodies, but would be conceded to a private company expecting a return. Customers would have to pay the construction costs and the owner’s profits. The counter-project maintains public management.

The cost of building a 1,000-space underground parking lot is around CHF 60 million. The city cannot afford this, and would be forced to concede the constructionl to a private developer. The developer would then benefit from the parking revenues for 70 years, which would cost the city CHF 2 million a year, or almost CHF 140 million. The counter-project provides for less costly alternatives, such as keeping some spaces on the surface or creating silo parking spaces.

The initiative requires all surface parking spaces in the city center to be integrated into an underground parking lot. The city’s contract with Marti-AMAG also includes requirements in this respect. If the 1,000-space parking lot is built, it will not be possible to retain spaces in front of the shops. The counter-project envisages maintaining 200 surface parking spaces – for example at Rue de la Plaine – in addition to the 600 underground spaces.

The project called for by the initiative is doomed to failure. It does not comply with higher-level regulations, and the same project has already been deemed non-compliant by cantonal authorities. If the initiative is accepted, the redevelopment of the Place d’Armes will be blocked by legal proceedings. The counter-proposal takes account of the canton’s requirements.