Parking Woes
How can fraternities and co-ops be allowed to bring all these cars into the neighborhood when decent, hard-working A2 families can’t even find spots to park the cars they buy for their high-school-age children? That’s what the North Burns Park Neighborhood Association wants to know (via Arbor Update). These pampered, privileged U of M students whose parents do everything for them probably just feel entitled to street parking.
Ah, Leigh Greden. Is there no neighborhood association cause you won’t support?
And how are university employees “abusing” the system? Are city streets not for the use of the public, whether resident or otherwise?
posted by Dale on November 28th, 2004 at 5:20 pmHmmm, I don’t see that in Leigh Greden’s comments as quoted in the article. Sounds like a neutral statement.
In New York State, municipalities, which generally have broad powers, are not entitled to restrict on-street parking to residents. Supposedly, the reason for this is that New York state legislators and staff are accustomed to parking on neighborhood streets near the state capitol in Albany. This would probably end if the city of Albany were able to create a neighborhood parking permit system.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on November 28th, 2004 at 9:09 pmI find his second comment neutral. His first is either irrelevant (if the second is true) or an indication of tentative support (if the second is not).
posted by Dale on November 28th, 2004 at 9:27 pmBut then, I’m no fan of Leigh Greden.
posted by Dale on November 28th, 2004 at 9:31 pmLarry, I think Leigh Greden is permanently tainted by his seeming to be the most heavily involved Councilmember in the couch ban fiasco. Regardless of whether he’s involved in any future ridiculousness, he’s got a big hole to dig himself out of.
Now, granted, “most heavily involved” is largely based on his being the Councilmember mentioned in the leaked OFW e-mail and on my observation of the Council meeting in August which was to be the first hearing on the proposed ordinance, but when it’s something so low, even mere willingness to touch the issue is enough for a grudge. (Yes, I’ll make a terrible politician, I know.)
posted by Murph on November 29th, 2004 at 12:28 amWho’s gonna run against Greden in the primary? That’s where we can beat him, and we might as well start working now. Just one defeat for someone like him will chasten the bullshit associations and check their power (and their unmitigated gall).
posted by js on November 29th, 2004 at 9:59 amMy favorite quote: “If one household is bringing 25 cars into the neighborhood and doesn’t have off-street parking, then they probably ought to change their behavior a little bit,” said John Nystuen of the North Burns Park group. “Some of them shouldn’t bring cars.”
Perhaps the good people of Burns Park should change their behavior, too. No driveway? Just don’t have a car. Afterall, one doesn’t need one in pedestrian-friendly Ann Arbor.
posted by Anna on November 29th, 2004 at 12:02 pmyeah, homeowners are such pigs!
(OFW insurgent laughs and laughs…)
posted by OFW insurgent on November 29th, 2004 at 4:19 pm(Obligatory biker comment) Anna is right; I’m all over the city doing errands on lunch hour on my bike, without the hassle of a car. It’s just easier. (/obligatory biker comment).
posted by Laura on November 29th, 2004 at 7:19 pmthing is a great number of you are pampered beyond belief. I drove yellow cab for a few years and it’s would always amaze me somebody would have to take a cab to a desination 3 blocks away. This happened all the time during the school year, I kid you not
posted by JJ on November 29th, 2004 at 7:19 pmWho’s the “you”? The good people of Burns Park, or the readership of this blog? Personally, I always avoided cabs in Ann Arbor because pot smoke aggravates my asthma.
posted by Anna on November 30th, 2004 at 9:16 amParking costs in Ann Arbor for students are ridiculous - getting a campus parking pass is hundreds of dollars when available, and even the yellow lots cost quite a bit on a student budget. Street parking without meters is the only way many students can deal with it - without tearing down housing to build more parking, which would increase rent even more.
posted by remember2002 on November 30th, 2004 at 10:58 amR2002, there’s an alternative available–not having a car to park. I made it through 4.5 years of undergrad without one while working (thrown in so you don’t try to claim that only trust-fund babies can manage that way); not having a car might mean it takes you a little longer to get where you’re going, but not only will you avoid parking costs, but also gas, insurance, car payments, etc–if parking costs are that much of a hardship, you’re probably better off not owning a car.
Not to say, of course, that Ann Arbor is *perfect* for the carless. AATA’s lines stop at 6 or 7 on the weekends, transit doesn’t run on holidays, there’s no way to commute by transit, and you can’t get to the airport for under $27 without a friend with a car. All sorts of fun things could be done by adding transit, increasing density, and mixing uses that would make it even better, and, of course, making it more difficult for people (students, commuters, and homeowners alike) to have lots of cars is a step towards encouraging that to happen.
posted by Murph on November 30th, 2004 at 5:27 pmEverything is JUST FINE the way it is. Why mess with success??
posted by Boris on December 2nd, 2004 at 2:49 amAmen, Boris.
posted by remember2002 on December 2nd, 2004 at 12:26 pmIt becomes more and more clear with every passing day in the people’s republic of Ann Arbor that things would be so much better here without the damn students, UM employees below six-figure pay grade, and the worthless scum working here but not paying taxes…so much more pleasant to tear down everything residential under $500K for parks and open space…turn the place into a deer park….
posted by jack on December 2nd, 2004 at 4:29 pmSo what would they suggest? Parking passes issued by the city - so that not only would parking still be an utter pain in the ass but tow truck drivers would become the fattest and happiest? And then they’d bitch to the city about the “predatory” practices of tow truck companies that would actually be acting within the laws that these residents pushed in the first place…
Jeez…Grow some balls and start slashing some tires if you don’t want ‘em parking in front of your house. And, please; remember to slash more than one tire so they have to call the tow truck themselves.
posted by K on December 3rd, 2004 at 1:22 pm