Mystery vehicles of Westwood

While en route this morning to the multi-Starbucks side of Westwood Village (I’d prefer to patronize local independent stores but the Frappuccino fan in the household insists no other frozen coffee drink compares), I got another look at the eternally parked vehicles along Trenton (north side of WV) that always make me go “hmmm” … one is a U-Haul-size truck encrusted in graffiti; it’s been there for months if not years. On the other side of the street, along the downslope of the Southwest Athletic/Chief Sealth/etc. playfield/stadium, a couple of rickety motorhomes seem omnipresent — or at least, they’re there every time we drive by (an average of a couple times a week). Are they abandoned? Do they belong to people who live in the area but don’t have parking space for them at their homes? Are they auxiliary changing facilities for sports teams who play for the field? Or … here’s the paranoid person inside of me coming out … perhaps, mobile meth labs? Take a look next time you’re en route to Bed/Bath/Beyond, Barnes ‘n’ Noble, or Target, and tell me what you think.

a May 21, 2006 (12:27 pm)

perhaps a week ago, while driving past i saw a few guys on top of one of the motorhomes, looking slightly suspicious. checking something out, possibly a way in? something about the scene seemed sketchy, but nothing obvious, so i just forgot about it.

Rob Lanphier May 21, 2006 (9:45 pm)

Okay, I’m a little derailed by the “best frozen drink” comment. The Java Bean “Bean Freeze” is much, much better than any Starbucks Frappawhatever thingy.

Administrator May 22, 2006 (2:12 am)

Really? I’ll have to point the resident Frappuccino fan in that direction. We haven’t been to JB in a while, though I was a devotee of theirs when they were in their “original” WS location — a cart, and then mini-hut, in front of the old Morgan Junction Thriftway before the big fire.

eric May 22, 2006 (11:31 am)

Call SPD on them. I believe you get either 24 or 72 hours on the street. They will come by and tag the vehicle and tow it a couple days later. We used to have a problem of people in the apartements across from our condo parking their “project” cars in front of our building, taking up all the street spots.

Had good luck with this method, as the cars would either get moved when they saw the notice or towed.

The House June 3, 2006 (3:21 pm)

As a Westwood resident, these vehicles have pissed me off more than a few times. They block the view on Trenton coming in and out of the shopping center. I spoke with several law enforcement officers and they stated they most move every 72 hours. The issue is that they only have to “move” up the street or on the other side. I’ve wanted to take matters into my own hands and simply to the people to find other areas to park their eye sores (ie under West Seattle Bridge along with the dozens parked there), but the fuzz advised that I not do that.

Sorry, comment time is over.