Westfield Century City shoppers will have to pay more to park at the mall beginning Feb. 1.
Increased rates will finally go into effect after the Los Angeles Planning Commission gave Westfield its stamp of approval in August to eliminate a three-hour free parking policy and start charging customers to use what is currently the only free parking structure in Century City.
Shoppers will pay $1 per hour for the first three hours, $1 for every 15 minutes after, and $24 for five or more hours. Mall-goers who show receipts for $250 or more spent that day will get free validated parking.
AMC customers will get the first three hours free and then pay a $4 flat rate for the fourth and fifth hour with validation. Gelson's will also validate.
A parking report commissioned by Westfield found "that area employees unrelated to the shopping center ... park at the Westfield Shopping Center and then leave the site on foot to travel to other local destinations. ... Often these intruders leave the structure only to re-enter so that additional free parking may be had."
Shoppers previously told Patch they'd probably cut back on trips to the mall if parking rates increased.
The mall has offered free parking since 1988, according to the Planning Commission report.
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