topic Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem in Community Chat

A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 21:46:43 GMT

I have lived in my townhouse community for eight years. We don't have driveways -- we have assigned parking spots which are perpendicular to the sidewalk. There's no grass between the sidewalk and the curb.

The parking spots don't line up perfectly, so the spot directly in front of my door (about 15 feet away) belongs to a neighbor who lives in a different line of houses around the corner.

Everything has been fine for seven years. This winter my neighbor had to give up driving because of a progressive neurological illness and sold his car, leaving his spot empty.

Little by little people started using his spot. Delivery cars, repairmen, visitors to other neighbors, etc. Someone drops off a friend at 2:00 am with the stereo booming. The delivery cars always leave the motor running and the stereo on. This summer the daughter of another neighbor used the spot repeatedly to clean out her car. Et Cetera, etc.

When you live sharing walls, your sense of private space is very important. Now I never know what to expect when I walk out my door.

I would not burden my neighbor with this issue unless I had some brilliant solution. There is nothing he can do given his mobility problem and distance from the space. He has visitors occasionally and they find another place to park if someone is using the spot.

Our HOA is "minimalist." I will not become the parking police, even if my neighbor would give me permission.

The best solution would be some treatment for my neighbor which could restore his mobility.

I recognize that this is a small problem, but it has changed my quality of life here and no one else in this community is living like this.

I hope I'm just not seeing the forest for the trees and there is some solution.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

KathyM23 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 21:53:14 GMT

Perhaps with your neighbors permission, you could use that parking space leaving your space empty for any visitors he might have and for repair and delivery people. This should not inconvenience his visitors since the space isn't in front of his apartment anyway.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Ainhisg — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 21:54:33 GMT

Do you drive? Could you explain the situation to him and ask him if you could use the space to park? If so, not only would that solve the problem, but your vehicle would be right in front of your townhome increasing convenience and safety for you.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

kindred cats — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:01:24 GMT

Perhaps a sign that says, "Private Parking Space" "For Tenant Only"

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Etoile308 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:03:32 GMT

Who is responsible for assigning the parking spots? Could you request your spot be traded and reassigned to the closer spot not currently being used by your neighbor?

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:06:58 GMT

My parking space is right next to his -- in front of my windows. A good suggestion but it would still leave the in-and-out in front of my house.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:30:13 GMT

The sign would probably help but would also alienate the neighbors whose visitors like to use the spot.

The line of houses around the corner faces a landscaped lawn and has no parking there. So the visitors of the five houses there love to park in front of my house -- the closest open spot. There are 7 guest spots scattered around which no one ever uses.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

phoenixbrd — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:07:34 GMT

I can understand why this situation would be bothersome to you. Unfortunately the "best solution" might not happen. Talk to management...it is an appropriate concern. You have a right to state what is happening and it is management's responsibility to address it. They can choose to let other tenants know that this parking space still has an owner and a ticket will be issued if someone parks there. Let management handle it. I wish you the best.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Ainhisg — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:35:10 GMT

@PickyPicky3 well, darn...we thought we had it figured out for you. I would hate to have that constant in and out traffic at all hours plus the noise. Would there be a neighbor that the spot would be a better parking place for them? Maybe they could approach the owner of the spot to see if they could park there?

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:50:46 GMT

@Ainhisg I have been thinking about your idea for some time. One of the people in the line around the corner has a long walk on a sidewalk to get to his car. The spot here would be closer but he would have to walk over the lawn. Not good if there's snow.

BUT his spot is in front of a guy's house who is NEVER at home. The perfect spot for the in-and-out.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

SilleeMee — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:32:04 GMT

Does someone there have an extra car that they don't drive often? They could just park it there and leave it there (with permission of course) so there would be no 'in-and-outs'.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

CatsyCline — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:34:56 GMT

@PickyPicky3 having owned a townhouse i feel for you. remember, unless it's different for you, you own from the studs in.

all exterior is governed by the HOA. at least my complex was.

my issues were with the owner with whom i shared one wall. i had nice neighbors until they moved in, partying every weekend, throwing F bombs on the back deck.

then they set up a sub-woofer for their surround sound system. t was placed in the not sound proofed attic and the vibrations came through my wall. like those cars with the loud sound systems you can hear for miles. i could not sleep!!

it was resolved ...lets just say it would have been best had i gone thru the HOA first.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Pink123 — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:50:49 GMT

Hi @PickyPicky3 I thought a town house has a garage where you go into with a remote.

Am I correct? Best of luck if I'm wrong but I now see your an owner and you have to deal with HOA. If so you must talk to them first.

I know, it is a nightmare but the best plan is go to to the asssociian if you are indeed an owner. You have rights..

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:03:51 GMT

@SilleeMee Right now everyone with two cars has worked out their own solutions but I'm keeping an eye out.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:03:04 GMT

@Pink123 We are legally a townhouse community. HOA maintains sidewalks, parking areas, cuts grass and removes snow.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Desertdi — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:25:44 GMT

My "youthful" neighbors began parking in my driveway. After a couple of $50 tickets, they learned not to mess with the "old lady"...

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

Pink123 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:34:44 GMT

@PickyPicky3 wrote:
@Pink123 We are legally a townhouse community. HOA maintains sidewalks, parking areas, cuts grass and removes snow.

@PickyPicky3 I'm so sorry, I too have dealt with HOA issues. The worst wa a cigar smoker om my neighbor., a European man which was constant from 6:30 am until 11 pm. It was a nightmare for years. I did get an arttorney, which I won and he had to stop smoking indoors's. Yet he sat on his 1,000 foot balcony feet where he set up a table and chairs and it blew right up into my apartment again. He loved it but yet could not move to the other side. In South Florida on the ocean the winds blow 30 to 45 miles per hour and more so higher up. It blows through thr windows, floor to ceiling.

Never ever willl I live in a HOA, its a nightmare. You have my sympathy.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:53:40 GMT

Our HOA consists of one guy who has lived here since this was built and handles maintenance contracts. The good news is he has kept our fees at 1/4 of other townhouse communities. The bad news is if he doesn't want to get involved with something, he won't even return your call.

No callback on this.

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

sabatini — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 01:14:46 GMT

@PickyPicky3, that would drive me up a wall too.

I too live w/ an HOA - my first one, ever. Parking is always an issue!

Here, each owner gets one parking space.

One.

However, in each section of townhomes, there are 2 open spaces, supposedly reserved for visitors, handymen, etc.

In my section, those 2 valuable, open spaces literally 'belong' to 2 people:

to a guy who parks his seldom used work truck in one space, & the other parking spot is taken by a woman who parks her fun car, a Jaguar, there.(wrapped tightly under a cover)

That leaves nada for anyone else.

Yes, it's petty of me, but it steams me nonetheless!

Re: A Small Quality of Life Problem

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 01:59:37 GMT

@Pink123 I am allergic to tobacco smoke and asthmatic and moved here after a bad secondhand smoke issue developed in my previous home. So I understand completely. I have had to move two other times in my life for the same reason.

I bought this place because I was convinced the construction and location would keep out secondhand smoke. I was right.

So my current situation is nothing when compared with the joyful smokefree existence I have had for eight years.

You'll find a way too.