Parking can be hard to come by in Avondale, one of Birmingham's most popular nightlife destinations.

Developers and Avondale property owners Orchestra Partners say they are going to make it easier to park there by making the surface parking lot near the corner of 41st Street and 3rd Avenue South, next door to Avondale Common House, a paid parking lot.

Beginning Friday, Aug. 3 parking in the lot will be $1.50 an hour on nights and weekends and $1 an hour on weekdays. Parking fees can be paid using an app (for more information click here) and the kiosk in the lot.

Orchestra Partners owns most of the block including the buildings that house Avondale Brewery, Post Office Pies, Saw's Soul Kitchen, Avondale Common House, Wasabi Juan's and The Sour Room.

The developers recently purchased the Demarais Automotive building between Avondale Brewery and Post Office Pies. John Boone, principal at Orchestra Partners, said there's already a lot of interest in the building.

Plans for the building's renovation haven't been released yet.

Boone said the surface parking lot will become paid because people have been abusing the lot by parking there all day. He said instituting paid parking will help restaurants not, hurt them.

Restaurants and businesses in Avondale contacted by AL.com didn't return messages seeking comment or declined to comment on the story.

Boone said businesses on the block were notified in May that the parking lot would become a paid lot.

"These businesses survive on gross receipts from foot-traffic, and their employees rely on heavily on turning tables," Orchestra Partners stated in a letter on its Facebook page. "Parking in this lot for extended periods deters patrons who might otherwise want to get in and out of these businesses in short order, so we decided to incentivize brevity."

You may notice some changes at the parking lot in Avondale, between Wasabi Juan's and the Common House. Attached is some helpful info on what, why, how, when, etc. Posted by Orchestra Partners on Monday, July 30, 2018

Boone said research has shown that gross receipts at urban restaurants actually increase when there is more parking turnover.

Parking fees will help Orchestra Partners make safety improvements, he said. Security cameras will be installed, and the parking system reads tags and will closely monitor all cars going in and out of the lot.

A wayfinding "Avondale Business Map" will also be installed soon in the parking lot to help visitors locate the district's restaurants, breweries and entertainment, Boone said.

Birmingham owns a paid surface parking lot at 109 41st Street South. Daily parking is $3.