UPDATE: Strict 2-Hour Limit Parking Limit Requested by Business Owners

It used to pretty much be a free-for-all when it came to parking in the lot behind the former Washington Federal Building (formerly the Horizon Bank Building) on the corner of Dayton Street and Fifth Avenue South.

No more.

Although the Washington Federal branch has now moved to a new location at Third Avenue and Main Street, Seattle-based Washington Federal still owns the parking lot at the former site. It was the decision of Wallace Properties, which manages the building and adjacent properties, to look at making changes to the existing parking rules at Fifth and Dayton.

The result: A two-hour limit for customers only and a fine of at least $30 for those breaking the terms and conditions of posted signs.

The request came from business owners, says Valorie Vaughn, a property manager for Wallace Properties. Vaughn says businesses in what is now called Dayton Place (Soma Salon, Twist Vinyasa Yoga, Christian Science Reading Room, Koenig Financial Group and Saetia) received complaints from customers and store employees that they couldn't find parking spaces in the lot.

During an monitoring period by Wallace Properties and Diamond Parking Service, Vaughn says the vast majority of those parking in the lot did not visit the Dayton Place properties.

A sign in the parking lot reads that parking is for two hours only, and only for those shopping at Dayton Place. Parking is enforced by Diamond Parking Service, which was contracted to monitor the lot.

Dayton Place customers should give their driver's icense number to their visiting store or business if they think they will be on site more than two hours, said Vaughn.

Violators will receive a $30 ticket, which goes up to $60 if not paid within 15 days.

Shannon Towing is in charge of towing vehicles if necessary.