3/20/11 Update: Good news!! The parking situation is much improved with nearly 99% cooperation. "Cars towed at owner's expense" signs were recently ordered and will be installed soon. Once in place, any cars parked in the easement will be immediately towed by Spanky's Asset Recovery.
Norwood Neighborhood Association has contacted DOT to install a NO PARKING sign to STOP cars from parking in 35th, 36th and 37th Street gray zones: one gray zone is next to Frank's Bakery, between the last parking meter and before the community drive exit. The other gray zone is on the opposite side of the street at the exit near Astoria Lock as well as similar locations on 35th and 37th Streets.
Cars parked in the gray zones create dangerous situations by drastically decreasing visibility of oncoming traffic when exiting the community drive.
Cars parked in the gray zones also jut out into the drives make turning into and out of the community easement exits difficult. This situation is extremely annoying and has caused a lot of frustration among residents as the drives are heavily used every day.
The short bit of curb in front of the last parking meters right before the drives do not have enough space for a car to park comfortably. Therefore, fronts of the cars jut out into the exit areas often blocking as much as 30 - 40% (see photos) and sometimes the whole exit.
Frequently, the cars parked in the gray zone are near-by business owners' vehicles or patrons of local 36th Street and 30th Avenue shops.
Norwood Neighborhood Association has reached out to local business owners re the gray zone parking as well as parking behind stores in the easements as well. The good news is the the community and NNA has had 99% cooperation from all but one business owner who refused to park legally.
