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Admiral Safeway parking smackdown update

March 12, 2007 3:10 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle schools

A WSB reader with kids @ Lafayette Elementary across from the store’s south lot forwarded us this e-mail bulletin from the school, complete with handy phone number if anyone wants to call the store’s manager to ask whassup with all this. Full e-mail text, plus a photo of something interesting we spotted in that same lot this morning, after the jump:

It has been brought to our attention that the W.S. Safeway (across from Lafayette) is now ticketing those people who are not shopping at Safeway. This includes those who are just dropping off or picking up students from Lafayette. A few of our parents have already gotten tickets. Safeway has not only posted signs, but they have also hired parking lot monitors.

We just thought you should be aware. Any questions or comments should be directed to Steve Rudd, Safeway Manager (206) 937-5112

(Now, our photo from midday today, with the school in the background at left, Safeway in the background at right:)

tulalipsafeway.jpg
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21 Replies to "Admiral Safeway parking smackdown update"

  • Chet Desmond March 12, 2007 (3:21 pm)

    Oh, now it makes sense..

  • Aidan Hadley March 12, 2007 (8:42 pm)

    The lot IS private property. It probably would not have been a problem if everyone hadn’t abused it. But everyone did so now the party is over. Why not leave the big honking SUVs and minivans at home anyways. Teach your kids by example and walk or use public transportation.

  • The House March 12, 2007 (10:18 pm)

    Don’t quite get the point of the pic. The driver of the casino bus could have run in for a drink or food. Not that big of a stretch or deal.

    Once again, the parking lot is PRIVATE property, not public. Safeway wins on this one!

  • Bubba March 12, 2007 (11:03 pm)

    Is that the Lafayette field trip going or coming?

  • Gina March 13, 2007 (6:35 am)

    I see many tour type buses that load, unload in that lot. Looks mostly like seniors going/coming home on trips. Safeway may allow the use of the lot for tht purpose. I bet the trigger for lot patrol was all the people that use that lot as a park and ride. Folks seem to think of it as a free public parking lot.

    Every now and again the lot is used for some purpose, Christmas tree lot, strawberry truck, windshield repair, tent sale, that is sanctioned by Safeway.

    A duplex and some little shops located there were torn down when Safeway expanded in the early 80’s. One dentist office was moved to a new spot by the Admiral Way bridge, building and all. Safeway used the lot during the construction, and made it into a parking lot when finished. The one house left on that part of the block seemed to be abandoned for years, but recently was repainted and rented.

    The plan was always that Safeway would expand again some time in the future, and that lot was held in reserve.

    The curious thing-how the heck did the Target carts get all the way from Westwood Village to Admiral Safeway? I can see them in the photo, and I saw them loose in the parking lot before they were gathered up.

  • Chet Desmond March 13, 2007 (7:28 am)

    Yeah, I don’t get what the point is of showing the Tulalip Van. Is it just a shot of the lot? Is a casino buying yet another piece of property? Is this the latest must have grocery getter for Admiral Moms?

  • eric March 13, 2007 (7:38 am)

    “complete with handy phone number if anyone wants to call the store’s manager to ask whassup with all this.”

    Right… Fight the power people. We need a cause! Call and complain, make lots of noise. How about we organize a boycott or a sit-in.

    As stated by others who seem to understand the concept of “private property”, it’s their lot, they can do with it as they wish.

    I wouldn’t shop at Safeway anyway – Metro Market is 100 times better.

  • Todd March 13, 2007 (9:57 am)

    Having used the lot regularly for 4 years for the express purpose of leaving my car and walking across the street I can say that it is a necessity for the school to have a lot for parents and other school visitors. That being said, the school has an overly large black top playground and other parking available behind the school that is currently fenced off. The background on the Tulalip bus photo – the senior citizens park in the lot and ride to the cassino – park and ride. Do they have permission?

  • Beverly March 13, 2007 (11:05 am)

    For better community relations the Safeway manager could have had some balls & sent notices to the local busnisses & the school. He could have put notices on the cars & saved his company some money rather than paying parking monitors for a week. What about the folks that get cash at WA MU to shop at Safeway – oh, they should probably join BECU which is in Safeway.

  • Administrator March 13, 2007 (11:57 am)

    In fact, it does appear, for what it’s worth, that the Admiral Safeway lot is routinely used as a park-n-ride for senior activity bus users. In the spring catalog for local community centers, it’s listed as one of two “van pickup sites” for city-sponsored senior field trips to the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, Red Hatters’ Day, a Sedro Woolley home tour, shopping, garden touring, a mystery walk, a historic visit to Cle Elum, and a tour to Poulsbo. Wonder if the city pays Admiral Safeway for the right to do this and for its participants to be able to park there.

  • ESEW March 13, 2007 (1:06 pm)

    I’m thinking the seniors aren’t driving themselves to Safeway in the first place, at least I hope they’re not. If you’re looking for someone to call and complain to, call the DMV and have some senior citizens licenses revoked. Yikes.

  • star March 13, 2007 (4:05 pm)

    why do people feel entitled to park there? It is a lot for those shopping at safeway. If it was your driveway, I’m sure you wouldn’t let people who weren’t visiting you to park there.

  • Jen March 13, 2007 (11:16 pm)

    It seems the parents have abused the “secret sneek” pick-up for the kiddies after school. I believe Safeway (and believe me, I’m no Safeway shopper)has not done anything wrong here. Maybe Lafayette and parents should get creative and work on the problem of pick-up/drop-off, it’s not Safeway’s issue.

  • westwood March 13, 2007 (11:40 pm)

    Of course Safeway has the “right” to police their parking lot however they want. Most Lafayette parents use the empty back lot for five minutes tops while we walk our kids across busy California on which very few drivers slow down for the school zone.

    It seems that Safeway could simply check before 8:30 to see if there are any cars using the lot for a park and ride. Then come back to the lot at 9:30 and see if the cars are still there.

    Many of us pop into Safeway before or after school because it is convenient. I think I will pop into PCC or Metropolitan instead. We also have a “right” to take our business elsewhere as a protest.

    BTW–many of the seniors do drive, you can tell by the preponderance of Crown Vics and Impalas in the back lot.

  • westwood March 13, 2007 (11:42 pm)

    Also, another side note: Many parents drive to Lafayette because it is the only full Spectrum program elementary school in West Seattle. Many kids come from the southern end where the school choices aren’t as good.

  • Gail J. March 15, 2007 (4:06 pm)

    I have never seen that back lot full and I think it’s a shame that Safeway cracked down as they did. The local businesses on that end of CA really appreciated the use of the spaces. Has Safeway considered a nominal monthly fee? I’m sure the businesses wouldn’t mind paying something reasonable…

  • K March 15, 2007 (9:25 pm)

    There’s an awful lot of entitlement in these posts getting on Safeway for choosing to have their parking lot used exclusively for their shoppers. I know the Lafayette parents on here don’t believe they are causing a problem for Safeway, but obviously someone at the store feels differently. I can’t believe that it is somehow Safeway’s fault that parents have to drive to Lafayette. If there’s a drop-off/pick-up issue, then the school has to deal with that, not Safeway. As for the casino vans/senior center activities, there’s probably some payment deal in place for use of the lot. Gail J. might be on to something with the idea to lease spots for usage, maybe Lafayette can do the same?

  • mark mcmaccin March 15, 2007 (10:26 pm)

    to those whom want to shop at pcc and metropoliton instead of admiral way safeway go ahead i won’t have to work as hard

  • BOERN & RAISED WESTSEATTLEITE March 22, 2007 (4:19 pm)

    I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SAFEWAY CAN DO WHATEVER IT WANTS WITH THERE PARKING LOT BUT LET’S DO IT IN A NICER WAY.THERE WERE NO WARNINGS AS STATED IN THE WEST SEATTLE HERALD,THE SIGNS THAT WERE PUT UP IN THE LOT WERE NEXT TO THE SAME ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOREVER(WHO OBVIOUSLY NO ONE PAYED ATTENTION TO)AND THE PARKING NAZI’S WOULD TICKET YOU THE MINUTE YOU GOT OUT OF YOUR CAR AND HEADED FOR ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE FRONT DOOR OF SAFEWAY!I WENT TO WA-MU CASH MACHINE THEN TO SAFEWAY AND I WAS TICKETED $35.00!!THAT WAS ONLY LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES!!I ALSO WORK IN THAT AREA AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALL OF MY CUSTOMERS.I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL QFC IS BUILT BECAUSE THEY WILL BE GETTING MY BUSINESS AND I AM IN SAFEWAY EVERYDAY!! WHERE IS THAT SMALL COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT WEST SEATTLE USE TO HAVE??????

  • old timer March 23, 2007 (7:12 am)

    I think that with each increase in population density we suffer a proportionate loss of our former sense of civility and common good.

    These turf squabbles show how a lack of mutual respect for each other can blow up into a ‘rights’ issue.

  • Queen March 28, 2007 (8:50 pm)

    I too am a life-long west seattleite. Yes, Safeway has a right to do with their property as they wish. But how they went about it was short-sighted and rude. (hee hee, pun intended as the Manager’s last name is Rood) Anyway, according to the two clerks I spoke with they had didn’t have forewarning either, in direct opposition to what was stated in the Herald article. A better way would have been to put an article in the Herald warning of the upcoming changes, perhaps notifying the local school to let their 450 families know. Those families are furious, and Safeway stands to take a HUGE hit in the way of boycott. I hope it was worth it. Oh, and the signs that were eluded to in the article DID NOT go up until the Thursday of the week they began ticketing people! It will be quite interesting to see what develops over this majorly stupid decision by Safeway folks. Is there going to be a minimum purchase requirement? Not that it matters to me, I will NEVER shop at that Safeway. But the children who may want to buy snacks after school might wanna know…..

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