Neighbors!

[Italiahaircolor]

My husband and I live in a townhouse (more of a row house) which is great for us. My husband live on a "circle" and in our "circle", we have several other developements, each of which has its own private drive and private parking.

Each "segment" or development has 5 rowhomes and 2 segments share the private drive...each home has a two car garage, and in our "segment" we have 4 extra parking spots. Well, Chicago winters bring lots of snow, so we automatically lose 1 additional parking spot, leaving us all with our private garages and 3 parking spots for 10 house to split.

Well, we have a neighbor whose home faces our private parking spots. She and her kids have private parking behind her home, yet everyday she parks in our private parking so she can walk to her front door

meaning we now only have 2 parking spots left for 10 homes!!

Yes, it''s true we all have private garages...but most of our neighbors have "garage hobbies"--a few have classic cars, my husband has a motorcycle collection, another neighbor is disabled and keeps a collection of wheelchairs in her garage, not to mention people in our court tend to entertain a lot--so we don''t even have guest parking most of the time...So, now its become a fight for the spots since we''re *not* allowed to park in front of our garages for snow removal purposes...and this you-know-what is taking up an additional spot in a parking area that isn''t even hers!!

What should I do? Knock on her door, and tell her to move her car? Leave a note? Key it (just kidding

)? Or let it slide?

We pay each month for those spots in our HOA...and now, because of snow and this woman, we''re down from 4 spots to 2 and it''s frusterating!

 

[neatfreak]

So does it say somewhere that these are private parking spots? Because that changes my answer...

 

[Italiahaircolor]

No. But the way they are recessed and in the back part of our driveway leads anyone to assume "oh, thats private"...unless someone is accustom to parking in a strangers driveway...and in which case, I just dunno!!

ETA: I think its important to know that this woman lives in the same development (COHS) that we live in. So, she does know the rules about parking....

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/1/2008 8:57:52 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
No. But the way they are recessed and in the back part of our driveway leads anyone to assume ''oh, thats private''...unless someone is accustom to parking in a strangers driveway...and in which case, I just dunno!!

Hmmm...I guess I am not understanding the layout here. It sounded like they were street spots...are they not? Can you try and explain exactly where the spot is and where it is accessible from?

 

[Kaleigh]

Can you speak to your HOA about this. Have any pics for us? I lived in a house where we all shared a driveway. Since I lived in the last house in the back, my neighbor blocked me many times. I had to knock on her door and ask that she move her car as it was blocking me from my driveway. She atually had the nerve to ask me why I had so many places to go.

We moved, she was a nightmare to deal with. I feel for you I really do. So darn frustrating.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Okay...

Our home backs up to our driveways...like an old city alley way. The parking is at the rear of our "alley" driveway. Not accessable from the street.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I''ll snap pictures tomorrow when we have some sunlight because I''m sure her flippin car will be there!

Our neighbors tend to be on the ignorant side. We are the youngest couple in our development...and we live in a nicer development with wealthier families, so they always act like they "can''t be bothered" with the rules, or plain old decency. We actually had our neighbors pipe burst and flood our basement (which is where a lot of our wedding things were stored

) ... he wouldn''t even return our phone calls!!! We had to take legal action!!

We''re planning on moving, but the market wouldn''t support selling right now since I think we''ve priced ourselves out of the market or reasonable comps in our development. Ugh.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/1/2008 9:18:40 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Okay...


Our home backs up to our driveways...like an old city alley way. The parking is at the rear of our 'alley' driveway. Not accessable from the street.

Ohhh I get it now. I personally then would leave a *polite* note on her car letting her know that it isn't public parking and that the alley is owned by your HOA. It seems that it is pretty clear cut that it isn't public parking...so I don't see a problem with that.

That being said, since it isn't public parking, can you call the local parking enforcement and give her a ticket? We live downtown in Madison and have private parking in back of our duplex just for the two apartments. If someone parks there who isn't allowed to, we can simply call the city parking enforcement and have them ticketed or towed. But usually we leave a note first if it happens...then we move straight to the tow if they come back.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I just walked out and left the note...

"To Whom It May Concern,
While I can appreciate the need for extra parking, especially during the winter months where snow removal can limit our parking options even further, I am requesting respectfully that you no longer use this spot for your car as it clearly belongs to Cambria Court, and you live on Middlebury. Should this become an ongoing issue, please know that I will contact our mutual HOA, and I suspect you will be either fined or towed and perhaps both. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, An Inconvenienced Neighbor"

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I like the note and I know your frusteration!

DH and I used to live in an apartment and I had my own carport - assigned to our apartment and we paid extra for it each month. Well, some gal decided one day that it was her spot and parked her car there. Nobody was at the apartment office so I had her car towed. We also notified the local police so if she reported it stolen they could direct her to the tow lot. It cost her about $100 and it never happened again - although she sent her boyfriend over to complain about it! Go figure!

Jess

 

[monarch64]

Good note, Italiahaircolor. I will be interested to find out (as I''m sure you will) whether it does the trick.

DH and I live on a regular ol'' street but it is a snow removal route. We have a two-car garage and no alley, so we always park in our garage and enter our house through the back door. We were just trying to figure out tonight why our street is always sooo jam-packed with cars (it turns into a one lane street because you can park on either side provided you have a village sticker), EXCEPT when it snows enough for the plows to come through, OR on street-cleaning days. WHERE do all the cars go? It''s pretty obvious that none of our neighbors use their garages the majority of the time...do they have extra cars, or use their garages for storage? Do they park on some other sidestreet that isn''t on the snow removal route? Mysteries!

It''s never really a problem that so many people park on the street, but whenever someone on our block has a party/GTG, it gets a little hairy...tonight people are parked completely illegally since someone is having a party...they''re parked clear up in front of the stop sign, facing the wrong direction, etc. I''m just waiting for our ticket-happy neighborhood policeman to come by pretty soon and start writing!

Anyone seen Parking Wars on A&E? It''s pretty funny, you get to see the daily life of a parking cop and how ticked off people get when they try to argue their way out of tickets and boots and don''t get their way. Even worse is when they go to get their cars back from the tow site and have to go through all kinds of red tape.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Thanks ladies for your supportive replies! My DH thought I was acting crazy, but it really bothers me because its like she has no regard for those of us who actually need that spot. I''m not sure what her parking situation is on her court, but our court is jam packed and its not fair that we take in the over flow, too!

To make the matter worse...she has her kids dropped off in our court...which means, there are numerous times when we have minivans, or SUV''s blocking our garages as they pull in and out. It''s aggravating and annoying, and I typically don''t rattle easily, but this ***** rubs me the wrong way! Her kids are pretty $***** too! They use our driveway and court as a skate park for doing tricks and setting up ramps, which really upsets my dogs since they can hear the echo of the blades! They "hang" in front of our houses too and sometimes sit outside blarring their music so loud you can hear it down the street. They have let their Sheltie run loose from time to time, and I have more than once chased the dog down the street worrying it would otherwise get hit by a car. In addition to that fact, we have two small Chihuahua''s that go outside (on lead with us) and I worry about a strange dog coming onto our property when we are outside--I don''t want a dog fight on my hands! I hate to be snarky about it...but, when you take every incident and add them together, it''s annoying beyond beliefe!

Ugh, get me outta here!

 

[diamondfan]

She sounds clueless and rude. She clearly feels entitled to do what she wants whenever she pleases. A note might do the trick. Towing, with the cost and inconvenience, will more than likely do it! I hate when people act as if the rules do not apply to them, that they are special and somehow entitled to have their way. Makes me nuts. Self absorbed people like that do not tend to get subtle hints though, so be prepared for her to do it until you really make it inconvenient for her. She will come up with alternate parking options if she has to spend a day getting her car out of the impound lot.

 

[Kaleigh]

ITHC, this is worse and worse as you describle it. Call the tow truck, that will get her attention. She raised kids that have little respect, so methinks asking her to comply will go over like a lead balloon. Best of luck with all of this. Take pictures too, evidence is key.

 

[strmrdr]

I hear ya, I had too pound on my neighbors door tonight and tell them next time they yell loud enough that I can hear it I''m not knocking I''m calling the cops.

The cops have went ticket crazy this year so everyone is fighting for the first come first serve parking spots out back. 4 extra spots for 14 apartments most of which have 2 cars so 28 cars and 14 garages and 4 parking spots for them.
It has been nutz this year. All the time I''ve lived here there has been no problem with the stupid cops or with snow removal but since they starting ticketing, snow removal has sucked because of the layout of the street the even/odd rule don''t work so the street never gets properly plowed and is covered by 4" of ice right now.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I think I''m going to stick with the note right now...give it a chance to work, since it''s already done. If that doesn''t work, I''m going to go over and knock on her door and be like "Listen B****, we''ve got a problem..." I really would hate to cost her money, because I know she is a single momma...but, I''m really tired of hauling myself (in heels) thru a snow drift just to get into my house, when I could park and walk across my driveway into the shelter of my garage! If the note doesn''t work, and the chat doesn''t work, then I guess we''ll have to get her new Jeep towed to impound because I will have *honestly* exhusted my options.

Strm, sounds like you have a big ol'' fight coming your way...and truth is, if they are screaming at each other, you might want to call the cops anyway...I live close to where Stacy Peterson went missing, and I get really weirded out about being able to *hear* people fight...

Kaleigh, her kids are disrespectful...I think they stole my potted Christmas tree this year too, although, again I said nothing

.

Diamondfan, she is rude! I will tow her if nothing else works...I just feel bad "spending" money she might need...

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/2/2008 12:29:14 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Strm, sounds like you have a big ol'' fight coming your way...and truth is, if they are screaming at each other, you might want to call the cops anyway...I live close to where Stacy Peterson went missing, and I get really weirded out about being able to *hear* people fight...

I know them and its likely just a one time thing but if its not they are on warning,
They were pretty embarrassed about it.
Its a Dad and 2 teenage daughters and they were arguing about the daughters boyfriend.
Typical teen stuff but not something I want too hear.
Wont be a fight over it.

 

[joflier]

I sure hope that she is considerate enough to park where she is supposed to from now on. We had similar issues when we lived in an apartment. We had some kids that liked to play basketball, which is great, kids need exercise, but they liked to play in between our parked cars!!!!

Good luck italia

 

[Steel]

I am sorry!

I feel your frustration....

.

This is the problem with new community type living areas. Sometimes (nearly always, in my experience) the neigbours mess it up. I would look to moving in the long term because if this bugs you it will bug you forever and it is unlikely that she will be the last inconsiderate witch to park there!

As a random option you could buy an old clapped out scooter (very very cheap) and ''park it'' in the space. Move it up when you want the space and leave it there when you want to reserve the space?

I do not think the note thing works. If she were nice then it would; but if she were- she would be considerate and would not have parked there in the first place. I would not leave another note.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/2/2008 12:29:14 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
I think I'm going to stick with the note right now...give it a chance to work, since it's already done. If that doesn't work, I'm going to go over and knock on her door and be like 'Listen B****, we've got a problem...' I really would hate to cost her money, because I know she is a single momma...but, I'm really tired of hauling myself (in heels) thru a snow drift just to get into my house, when I could park and walk across my driveway into the shelter of my garage! If the note doesn't work, and the chat doesn't work, then I guess we'll have to get her new Jeep towed to impound because I will have *honestly* exhusted my options.


Strm, sounds like you have a big ol' fight coming your way...and truth is, if they are screaming at each other, you might want to call the cops anyway...I live close to where Stacy Peterson went missing, and I get really weirded out about being able to *hear* people fight...


Kaleigh, her kids are disrespectful...I think they stole my potted Christmas tree this year too, although, again I said nothing

.


Diamondfan, she is rude! I will tow her if nothing else works...I just feel bad 'spending' money she might need...

Just to point out...she probably isn't a "just trying to make ends meet" single mom if she's driving a new jeep, those things are NOT cheap...

And you've given her fair warning. I agree that it's not nice to tow her immediately, but if you leave a note AND have a chat with her, and she's still doing it? Totally fair game IMO.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Neatfreak, you're probably right...chances are she's not living paycheck to paycheck...we live in a very *nice* development composed of wealthier families so I am sure she has some money...I just know that if I were a single Mom, even if I had money to spend, it probably wouldn't be money to burn...in addition to that, my car would be my life line.

And, I started thinking....she IS a single woman...with a TWO car garage and her ONLY car she parks in our spot....why the hell isn't she using her garage?????? WTF!

 

[diamondfan]

Italian, I am not trying to spend her money, but I doubt that would break her and it would teach her to be respectful of others. I just cannot stand people who think the rules do not apply to them. It really makes me crazy. If you leave a note and are nice about it, I see nothing wrong with following through on the towing. She lives with others in a community and her actions adversely affect people. Wouldn''t we ALL like to be able to bypass the rules when it suits us? Isn''t it possible there are others with extenuating circumstances who still manage to follow the rules? In settings like yours there are rules for a reason. It is potential chaos for someone to just arbitrarily decide that the rules do not apply to them. I am not advocating being mean or spiteful or nasty. And if you cannot resolve it, back up and get the management people involved, that is part of their job.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/2/2008 1:52:01 PM
Author: diamondfan
Italian, I am not trying to spend her money, but I doubt that would break her and it would teach her to be respectful of others. I just cannot stand people who think the rules do not apply to them. It really makes me crazy. If you leave a note and are nice about it, I see nothing wrong with following through on the towing. She lives with others in a community and her actions adversely affect people. Wouldn''t we ALL like to be able to bypass the rules when it suits us? Isn''t it possible there are others with extenuating circumstances who still manage to follow the rules? In settings like yours there are rules for a reason. It is potential chaos for someone to just arbitrarily decide that the rules do not apply to them. I am not advocating being mean or spiteful or nasty. And if you cannot resolve it, back up and get the management people involved, that is part of their job.

Ditto. I totally agree DF.

 

[swingirl]

Why don''t you start parking in that spot and get her out of her habit?