West Seattle’s newest pay-to-park lot

| Development | Seen around town

The north side of the big parking lot at the future site of Fauntleroy Place has turned into a pay lot. We asked Blue Star Management, which is developing FP, what’s up. Company rep Eric Radovich wrote back, “Having Diamond Parking manage the north side of the big parking lot greatly reduces our liability on the site. This also cleared out the Gee Motors vehicles that had been parking on the site without permission. The fee to park in the Diamond lot in the evening is just $2. There is still plenty of free parking for patrons of Schuck’s Auto Supply and Hancock Fabrics on the south end of the lot.” We also asked Eric about the FP retail status, given that we are frequently pinged about rumors of changes in megaprojects including that one; he says NO CHANGE – it’s still on for a 47,000-sf Whole Foods store and a 14,000-sf Hancock Fabrics store, and it now looks like demolition/groundbreaking should start next March/April.

Flowerpetal September 6, 2007 (2:22 pm)

This is not a welcome development. Does this mean that we cannot park near the door of Hancock but must park further south near Schuck’s? Also, West Seattle Bowl makes good use of several of the spaces in that lot. Bowling leagues start this week and the lot gets crowded. I fear this will only encourage people to clog the side streets with parking. Very non-community friendly and not a good solution for getting Gee’s new cars off that parking lot.

Jan September 6, 2007 (4:26 pm)

I think that they could have gone and worked with Gee Motors…but in the end, the underlying cause is money…liability, etc., and, even at 2 bucks, someone is going to make some money on it.In the end, when construction begins, people who go to WS Bowl will have no choice but to park on the street. It’s a shame…and what am impact on the neighborhood.

julee September 6, 2007 (4:33 pm)

they own the lot and should be able to do and charge whatever they want. Come on people it is only 2 bucks.

Flowerpetal September 6, 2007 (4:34 pm)

Jan, you hit the nail on the head; it all comes down to $ doesn’t it? I don’t understand how shared parking lots work. Where does the lot now managed by Blue Star begin and end? And if construction begins in a few more months (February) that whole lot will be inaccessable. After Diamond takes their cut, will Blue Star really make much? Greedy and not very neighborly.

Jen V. September 6, 2007 (5:38 pm)

We were at the bowling alley last night and it was a league night and there was NO parking left by the time we took off. Pay parking on the West Side is simply WRONG. Not that I am condoning illegal activity (ahem) but maybe someone will take care of the pay parking problem like they do frequently for the pay parking under the Bartells in the Admiral District? (every time we go there, someone has rammed thru the toll gate, rendering it useless….and free) ;)

ms_f September 6, 2007 (5:49 pm)

This would be a good time to rant about Diamond Parking — even though it’s not a West Seattle issue. I parked across the street from the Paramount Theater downtown in a Diamond Parking lot over the weekend. We went to the matinee of the play there. I had to park as close as possible because my husband is disabled. Event parking was $30! That is an all-time high, but I decided to splurge on parking, just to make it easier on both of us. After the play, we had a quick meal nearby, and were back to our car in plenty of time for the next round of theater-goers for the evening performance. Can you believe that when I got back to my car I had a parking citation for an additional $35.00? I complained vehemently, and they voided the penalty. But my gosh — talk about greed! I will avoid any of their parking lots at ALL costs from now on.

Jan September 6, 2007 (5:51 pm)

Julee…you’re right…it IS their lot…and it IS just 2 bucks…but they own the whole lot, I think..so why not make it all a pay lot? why just this portion…no..it’s not very neighborly…

Jan September 6, 2007 (5:55 pm)

ms_f…Diamond Parking is the worst. I am technically NOT disabled, but I do walk with a cane until I have hip replacement surgery, and last time I went to Paramount I had to park in a lot at 8th and Pike…but..it was only 5 bucks…you might consider dropping your husband off and then going to park there. Yes, you have to walk 2 blocks, but…no chance of parking overtime fines…much, much cheaper.

ms_f September 6, 2007 (7:10 pm)

Jan, I’m always nervous about dropping my hubby off at the curb and leaving him alone because he is at risk of having seizures. We had a disabled parking placard, so you would think they might have been slightly lenient (at $30!). I’m still not sure how long we were supposed to be there, but the machine printed out a flat-rate parking ticket that clearly said 6-hour parking, and we were only there for about 5-1/2 hours. I wrote an angry letter to the Chairman, CEO and COO! At least it felt good to vent a little. I don’t like Diamond Parking… no, no.

Josh September 6, 2007 (8:21 pm)

We in WS seem very focused on our free parking – wherever we would like, even on other’s private property.

We had better get used to the idea that with density, parking will be more scarce and will sometimes cost us.

Having said that, I hate paying for parking too, especially to Diamond.

SomeGuy September 6, 2007 (8:37 pm)

Jan, I couldn’t agree more on Diamond. A couple years ago they tried to stick me with a phantom ticket for a violation in the U-District. Had my license number and truck description but because I am the only person driving that truck, I knew for a fact that I hadn’t even been in that part of town for at least a year. I fought it and they eventually dropped it but I am sure some people fall for their scams and pay it. And I do believe it is an out and out scam – not just mere incompetence.

flipjack September 6, 2007 (9:21 pm)

Hey, that’s progress!. Everyone seems to think urban density is such a great thing…well get used to either paying for parking or not finding a parking spot.

Jumbojim September 6, 2007 (10:06 pm)

Hey Flipjack, you aren’t the only one bothered by the unwholesome changes increased density is bringing – at least judging by many comments throughout this blog. I agree that many of the changes are unwelcome. Perhaps if infrastructure, especially public transport, improved *in step* with the growth, that could ease the pain some by allowing good alternatives to driving everywhere – but I don’t really see that happening.

Pete September 6, 2007 (10:16 pm)

I know most of us who are comfortably perched in the middle class consider it beneath our station but we really ought to try taking the bus more often. The 54,55, and 22 routes all stop right there. Even on bowling night.

pam September 7, 2007 (5:46 am)

This isn’t about parking: I see no change in the rumors but I heard talk the other day about a Trader Joe’s going in there…say it’s so, WSB, say it’s so.

This is about parking: What Pete said. Take the bus. Also, I’m finding WS to be very bikeable.

eric September 7, 2007 (7:55 am)

You have no right to park on someone else’s property for free.

We have become such an entitlement society it sickens me.

Get over it.

Gina September 7, 2007 (8:35 am)

Ramming through the toll gate at the parking garage in the Admiral District sounds like a fool was driving.

At this time it is $1.00 to park there. And it is unmanned. If they have to hire someone to sit in a booth to watch for vandalizing idiots the price would certainly have to be raised.

And how much is body work on a car? I bet it is more than a dollar.

The street level parking at Hancock/Schucks will soon be history. Pay or free. Free street parking may end in West Seattle, citizens in other parts of town complain that West Seattle gets free parking on the street because the mayor lives here. So we might have to pay just to be fair to the other parts of town.

eric September 7, 2007 (9:03 am)

Gina –

I agree, especially with the new pay stations they have deployed in other parts of the city. It’s really a no-brainer.

If you don’t like paying for parking, walk, ride the bus, or move to the burbs!

m September 7, 2007 (9:22 am)

WS should continue to have free parking; it has been a neighborhood tradition! And sure, it is only $2 but I’d rather keep that for myself. The property owner should have worked something out with Gee or else had the new cars towed off the lot if it was such a problem.

Sarah September 7, 2007 (11:01 am)

We should have free parking because it’s a “neighborhood tradition”? That has to be the worst argument possible for this situation. So the argument is that things should stay the same because that’s the way they’ve been? I’d hate to hear your opinions on other controversies, if that’s the best reason you can come up with. Where I live, the British motor repair shop leaves its junker cars all over the place, including on the sidewalks, and from what I hear they’ve been getting away with it for years. Only recently have they been getting ticketed by police. By your argument, is that a “tradition,” also? Should they not have to pay those tickets because they’ve already been breaking the law for so long?

Jan September 7, 2007 (11:53 am)

Lots owned by private persons/entities have every right to charge for parking on them. There are quite a few lots in the Alaska Junction that have started to charge. I’m not sure what will happen to the free lots, but when I had my business in the junction, and was a member of the Junction Business Assn., the business owners contributed money to make sure that the lots behind Morton’s, the liquor store, behind Garlic Jims’s, etc, stayed free. It’s good for business, not just a “tradition”. It allows more people to come and shop there.
The situation next to the bowling alley? Sure it’s just 2 bucks, but…I think they saw a way to put a little extra cash in their pockets when they realized how many people actually park there for bowling. It is what it is, it won’t change…and this is just a personal opinion :)

SomeGuy September 7, 2007 (12:59 pm)

Good article on Diamond parking and their shenanigans from five years ago. Watch out for their scams and illegal fees!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/90344_diamond09.shtml

JT September 7, 2007 (3:55 pm)

Sounds like not enough folks had the pleasure of cutting the chain on “Joe Diamonds” parking barrels in their teen years.

Dis September 7, 2007 (4:28 pm)

Yes, JT, one of my favorite acts of revenge was throwing the whole dang barrel in my trunk when it was chained my back bumper. In those days the chains were relatively thin braided steel cables, easy to cut with wire cutters.

ms_f September 7, 2007 (4:42 pm)

OK, re my rant above, to Diamond Parking’s credit, they have apologized several times now about my parking citation (beyond the initial $30 gouge), and are offering to send me parking “credits” for future use. I did have to suggest that they compensate me, first. But at least they say they’re going to do it. We shall see.

Jen V. September 7, 2007 (5:45 pm)

I would like to encourage anyone parking in a pay lot to use a check. I parked at the Diamond lot kitty-corner from Ovio one night and wrote a check for the $2.00 parking (yes, I am against pay parking in West Seattle, but I was also against being late for happy hour at Ovio and there was no street parking)thank goodness I used a check, because I came back to my car to find a parking ticket! When I called “customer service” they said I had not paid and had to pay the ticket. With a check, I had proof that I had paid and the ticket was waived…and I hope they felt stupid. Remember, if you pay in cash – it is only their word against yours- and Joe Diamond does not like to lose.

star September 7, 2007 (7:03 pm)

I take the bus most everywhere, however if you don’t live along the 54 or 55 routes getting to the junction is a PITA…the 22 yes, but it stops running at 7pm and only runs every hour on sunday….not really an option for a night out on the junction. Getting to alki from the south end, you have to take 2 buses and they only run every half hour! Metro service in WS is not that great. With all the new density, it needs to be better.

oh and paying for parking? Welcome to city life.

Dave September 11, 2007 (10:23 am)

Someone shoudl check to see if their permittign is in order. Pay parkgin lots are called “principal use” parking in the Seatte Municpal code. These “pay to park lots” are prohibited in many commercial zones. Grandfathered ones like the Junction has are allwed to reamin but new ones are prohibido!

ihbs September 19, 2007 (10:38 am)

Blue star may be a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing. While they say there is a liability there really isn’t. There is no reason why they can’t let there lot be used as it has for the past 50 years by residents and the church or bowling alley until they break ground. By the parking being reserved during the day and pay at night this clearly targets the church, bowling center and residents on 40th st. which have been in the West Seattle community for nearly 65 years. My child goes to school here and the Bowling Alley regularly donates items to help local charities, schools and community groups, also they hold events to help local non profits raise money. This is what the West Seattle community spirit is all about. I really don’t think Blue Star needs the couple of dollars generated by the parking especially if the project might cost $50 plus million to build. You should ask yourselves if Blue Star really wanted to build community relations as a new member to West Seattle this probably isn’t the way to go about it. Most likely matters won’t get better after it is built. All the bad will that this is building will just carry over to Whole Foods and then they will have to deal with the fall out.

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