Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Parking Nightmare!
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October 6, 2011 at 3:10 pm #600805
kvkParticipantEver since the have implemented the 2hour parking on California Avenue, parking on 44th Avenue has become a nightmare for residents! Not to mention when they close most of our parking (except for the distance of 1/2 a block on one side of the street)any time there is an event on California Avenue! We are now often parking 1 and 2 blocks away from our homes, and in the rain with kids, this sucks! Does anyone know how we go about getting PERMIT PARKING established for residents? This problem is only getting worse! HELP
October 6, 2011 at 3:18 pm #736375
KlauseMemberAdded to the mess is all the new construction (Apts/Townhomes/condos)that the city only imposes minimal required parking spaces for the units, which forces more vehicles on the streets. I don’t understand the cities building codes that basically only requires 1 stall per unit (if that). On average, more than one person lives in a unit and usually both people have cars. Not seeing the logic in Seattle’s idiotic requirements. They believe that everyone in the city will give up their cars and take to buses and bikes. Plus, when the contractors build the parking stalls for these new buildings, unless you have a Motorcylce, most cars won’t fit in them.
Ahhhggg!
October 6, 2011 at 5:22 pm #736376
datamuseParticipantOne to two blocks in the rain? Will they melt?
Sorry, sorry. I know it’s a pain, and it does suck when you can’t park right close to home. Just, you know, when I lived on Capitol Hill it wasn’t unusual for me to park half a mile or more from my apartment because of the metering, so 1-2 blocks really doesn’t seem like that much. But these things are relative and it is an annoyance, I get that.
Here’s the site with information about the RPZ program, though it doesn’t say how you go about getting your neighborhood reviewed for the program. It’s in SDOT’s wheelhouse, though, so your best first step is probably to call them.
Just, y’know, be aware that if the neighborhood does go this route, you and all your neighbors will be paying annually for those permits. Which, if it’s worth it to you, is maybe not a big deal.
October 6, 2011 at 7:02 pm #736377
kvkParticipantSo by chance when you lived in Capitol Hill and n an apartment, did you have 2 kids under the age of 4 and go grocery shopping?? When we bought our house we had plenty of parking. It wasn’t until they implemented the 2 hour limit on California, and all the employees of those affected establishments started parking on our street!
Gosh, call me crazy to actually want to park in front of my own house and not 2 blocks away!
Thanks for the link.
October 6, 2011 at 7:06 pm #736378
datamuseParticipantEr, I wasn’t calling you crazy. You’re welcome.
October 6, 2011 at 11:08 pm #736379
funkietooParticipantA different perspective…
There are West Seattle Residents, with and without small children, that walk and/or take the bus everywhere, in all kinds of weather conditions…and carry all of their purchases at the same time. Some do it by choice; some do it because they cannot afford a car.
We have West Seattle folks that cannot drive and get about, in all kinds of weather conditions, with the help of their wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc., with all of their purchases, and yes, some have small children.
There are countries where the families have to walk miles a day, in all kinds of weather conditions, just to get food and water.
Yes, it is nice, and convenient, to be able to park in front of our own dwelling. It does suck to have to walk in the rain. Do I have a ‘right’ to be able to park in front of my dwelling? No. It’s more of a gift or a luxury, in my mind. So, when, on the rare occasion, I cannot park in front of my dwelling, I hoof it, thinking I’m pretty darn lucky.
October 6, 2011 at 11:14 pm #736380
chrismaParticipantOctober 6, 2011 at 11:30 pm #736381
funkietooParticipantOctober 7, 2011 at 12:10 am #736382
WSBKeymasterYes, just about everything people bitch about here and on a million other First World websites is a First World Problem. Doesn’t mean it’s not a real problem for how they live their First World lives. Please be courteous to your fellow members. The reason this section of the site exists is exactly SO people can ask for help and advice, even if you think theirs is a problem they should feel happy to have.
That said, for the OP: We have reported here over the past few years about neighborhood leaders’ efforts to get an RPZ. Are you familiar with the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO)? Their most recent meeting was just a few weeks ago. The city has repeatedly said “no.” But you certainly should check in for an update – in case there’s any chance it has come around again with the SW Alaska rechannelization that is now impending. There should be contact info at http://wsjuno.com, though I don’t know if the site is terribly up to date. Erica Karlovits is JuNO president and if you have trouble reaching her, let me know and I can forward an inquiry. – Tracy
October 7, 2011 at 12:11 am #736383
datamuseParticipantOh, to answer the question, I don’t have kids. But I usually walked half a mile each way to the grocery store and back.
You’ve gotta take into account that, well, it’s a public street. There’s no rule I know of that says public street parking in front of your house is guaranteed. I could be wrong; I have a driveway, but no street. ;)
October 7, 2011 at 12:22 am #736384
kootchmanMemberDevelopers…tunnel to Vulcanville with no downtown exits.. small parking spaces to cram in more tenants … and a mayor hell bent on making you ride metro by making an aversive climate for autos… and parking fees… oh those parking fees.. it’s about money. They have more and the city always wants more.
October 7, 2011 at 12:32 am #736385
chrismaParticipantOctober 7, 2011 at 12:56 am #736386
FlyonthewallMemberKootchman –
Spot on! Although you forgot to mention the transit riders whose fares don’t contribute to road maintenance, etc…. they barely cover gas for the busses while auto owners are punished financially for using their vehicles.
I run a business that requires the use of my vehicle providing essential services and the mayor’s policies are about to put me out of business. I akso have begun to limit services in areas such as the Junction & Cap Hill because the parking is so problematic. There are not enough commercial parking spaces
October 7, 2011 at 12:57 am #736387
FlyonthewallMemberKootchman –
Spot on! Although you forgot to mention the transit riders whose fares don’t contribute to road maintenance, etc…. they barely cover gas for the busses while auto owners are punished financially for using their vehicles.
I run a business that requires the use of my vehicle providing essential services and the mayor’s policies are about to put me out of business. I also have begun to limit services in areas such as the Junction & Cap Hill because the parking is so problematic. There are not enough commercial parking spaces either.
KVK – it has gotten a lot worse in your area and considering that you pay property taxes that help maintain your street, neighborhood, etc….. I don’t think its too much to ask for a parking place within close proximity. Good luck!
October 7, 2011 at 1:05 am #736388
FlyonthewallMemberSorry about the overpost – damn smart phone!
October 7, 2011 at 3:00 am #736389
kootchmanMemberTry NYC… no autos…city income tax. No gas revenue, commuter tax,..tolls on everything…. one thing is for sure… more taxes. Bet on it. Wait until ya have to call a Taxi to go shopping… maybe then,..we will call ourselves a “world class city”.
October 8, 2011 at 6:21 pm #736390
redblackParticipantprivate development in admiral junction has caused a paucity of public parking spaces, since the anchor tenant in that development – safeway – relies in part on street parking for their customers’ and employees’ convenience.
has anyone asked SDOT why they changed california to 2-hour parking? without researching, i’m guessing that it was pressured by the businesses in the area. or maybe the neighborhood association. or maybe the city has figured out that that was the best way to address the increased volume.
in any case, i doubt you can hang this one on mayor mcginn.
flyonthewall: what policies has mcginn enacted that have caused you financial harm?
and let me get this straight. you complain about buses – which take cars off of the road – then you complain about too many cars on the street for you to deliver efficiently.
which way do you want it?
just a minor off-topic point about buses: say a metro has 20 riders on the west seattle bridge at rush hour. would you rather let a bus in at the 99 merge, or 20 cars?
October 8, 2011 at 6:53 pm #736391
JanSParticipantand then there’s the misconception that bus commuters don’t have cars. Many do, just don’t commute in them. And they do pay towards road maintenance.
October 8, 2011 at 8:48 pm #736392
SmittyParticipantAll 20 cars at once? The bus. But something tells me 20 cars spread out over 30 minutes would absorb much better into traffic than a 60 foot bus nosing in at the last second.
October 9, 2011 at 4:22 pm #736393
redblackParticipantaside from the fact that if you don’t tailgate, watch your mirrors, and let buses merge*, i’d rather the 20 cars stay parked in west seattle…
provided it’s convenient for the drivers. there’s also a misconception that democrats, liberals, and mike mcginn – who are not always in the same boat at the same time – hate cars and want everyone on bikes and buses. or that we want gridlock so that you – yes, you! – have to take public transit. because we are emulating european trains. or forcing you to admit that global warming is man-made. or want you to rub elbows with “common” people.
anyway, smitty, how do those 20 cars absorb into downtown parking?
again, the bus is more sensible, provided that it’s practical.
*i was reading the RCW last week, and the law states that you have to let buses merge. not sure how it’s enforced, especially when traffic is going about 1 mph. i didn’t write the law, i’m just reporting it. so lower your weapons.
October 9, 2011 at 4:30 pm #736394
JoBParticipantkvk..
ok.. i am going to be the jerk here…
you did realize when you purchased your home that the trade off for being within walking distance of so many services was that you bought in an increasing density area and that could eventually affect parking, didn’t you?
I have started the process of house shopping myself and since we would prefer to be within walking distance of services, proximity to off street alley parking for more than the two vehicles we currently own is one of my criteria…
October 10, 2011 at 5:09 pm #736395
BostonmanMemberAs great as West Seattle is there are still specific areas that I would never buy a house or rent an apartment because of parking alone. Alki and the Junction come to mind. Even though my house is a few blocks West of the Junction its far enough away no one parks there. Plus I have my driveway.
When you live in a specific area you know what is going on. Turning around and complaining after you moved in is pointless. I would bet that the businesses enacted the 2 hour parking because residents would park and never move their cars which resulted in less people shopping.
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