UPDATE ON PAGE 2 Neighbor/parking in front of house question

I know, I know.

We only moved in a month ago. So, part of me feels like we need to not let ourselves get pushed around so early on. We bought a house on a corner. We have our garage on the side, but our driveway isn't long enough for another car. So, one car goes in the garage, the other has to go in front of the house (or on the side of the house).

HOWEVER, the side street prohibits any parked cars between the hours of 9-11am Mon-Fri (to prevent commuters from parking and then riding the bus into the city.).

It is a VERY VERY residental area. Tree lined streets, etc. Because we are on a corner, we are literally only allowed to park RIGHT IN FRONT of our house, or else park in front of someone else's house (which I *ALWAYS* avoid doing).

I've noticed every morning when I go to work that there's a mini-van parked in front of our house.

DH told me that on Monday, he left for work late and the owner of the mini van stopped to talk to him and said AND I QOUTE:

"I'm the azzhole with the mini van. I had another car, but I have a 16 month old, so I HAD to buy this car and it bottoms out whenever I park it in my driveway, so that's why I'm parking it in front of your house."
DH said "well, I'm actually on my way to town hall now because we want to expand our own driveway. I'll let you know how it goes." He told me she said "yeah, let me know how it goes." (To me, this implies that she hasn't taken any steps to fix her own driveway or at least ASK for an exception to the 9-11 rule for herself)

So, of course, as I'm getting dressed for work, I can see from my bedroom window, her drive up and park in front of my house- even though the ENTIRE STREET is empty, and then went on her way back to her house (which is on the side street with teh 9-11 rule).

Now, seeing that she could have parked ANYWHERE, but has made a habit out of parking only in front of my house really annoyed me.

I am disgusted by the whole "I had to buy THIS car..." logic. No, you didn't HAVE to buy that car. You CHOSE to buy that car. Just like you CHOSE to buy the house on the street with the parking rules and you are CHOOSING to NOT FIX your own driveway, but park in front of my house instead.

If DH and I were BOTH off from work, WE'D have to scramble for parking because she has made a habit of parking in front of our house and I'm really annoyed by this.

What would you guys do, if anything.

Message edited 8/29/2008 9:20:22 AM.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Thanks for this post... I wasn't aware that the law now stated that if you have a 16 month old you must buy a mini van

I don't think there's much you CAN do. If you've already asked him to park his car elsewhere and he refuses then there's nothing you can do. Why he ouldn't just park one more house down, esp. knowing that HAVE to park on the street IDK.

I'm sorry you have to deal w/someone so inconsiderate.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Posted by LINewbie

I don't think there's much you CAN do. If you've already asked him to park his car elsewhere and he refuses then there's nothing you can do.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

we have an issue with our neighbors parking in front our our house because they have too many cars that can't fit in their driveway and in front of their house. There are no rules with the parking on the street by our house. They just park there because we live next door to them. They have six cars and can only fit 4 in the driveway. But because they have three younger childern still at home that all drive, they don't really use the driveway. It drives me nuts some days. I know the street is for anyone to park, but it just drives me crazy. So I feel your pain. Good Luck! I don't really think there is too much you can do about it.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

There really isn't much you can do I don't think.

But, why don't you start parking your car in front of your house... maybe he'll get the hint!

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Why is the part about why she bought the car so annoying?? I don't get it...

As far as the parking there, did your DH ask her not to park there? If so and she is still parking there, she's just being obnoxious. I don't have someone park in front of my house all the time but I guess I would find it annoying. I came from Queens so I didn't understand the whole parking in front of the house issue until I moved here and it's very funny bc I can understand now. Yes, you don't own the spot but it can irk.

Does she not have a spot in front of her house?

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Yeah, I know it's not a matter of my "rights". I have no rights to the street in front of the house. It's a matter of what should I say to her, if anything at all.

The thoughts that go through my mind are "I didn't chose your house for you. I chose mine for exactly the same reason that you are parking in front of it- because I'm allowed to during the day, except I paid a higher price for a luxury that I can't enjoy now." Or "I go to work everyday to pay for the exansion on my driveway, which will make it easier for you to park your car in front of my house each day while I'm working and you're home." Or, "I'd like to be able to see *my* car from my bedroom window in case something happens to it, not yours." And the most prevalent thought I have is that I would have ASKED the homeowner if they minded or if I was in their way- not just decreed to the homeowner that I'd be parking in front of their house from now on.

Or, I guess I could just ask "when are you getting your driveway fixed so you can keep YOUR car THERE?"

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

There isn't anything you can do, and I wouldn't say anything to them. I would just park your car in front of their house.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

We had something like this happen and we park one of our cars in fromt of our house now, they got the hint...

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Message edited 8/28/2008 10:49:40 AM.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by ave1024

There isn't anything you can do, and I wouldn't say anything to them. I would just park your car in front of their house.

that would be the best solution of the neighbor didn't live on the side street where you can't part from 9-11am

you can't really say anything - but i am very passive aggressive and if it were me, i would make sure i got the spot in front of my house every day.

actually DH and i have 3 cars so i would alternate which one sat on the street every day

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

My neighbor complains about us CONSTANTLY. Sometimes we can't help it. My mom has four adult children that all have cars so sometimes we have to park in front of other people's houses.

She always says something to us and we're still really friendly.

Just say something - it's not as bad as you think.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Message edited 8/28/2008 10:59:03 AM.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Personally, I was in this exact situation as you. A corner house and for some reason, always the house that someone wants to park in front of. I don't care if I come off as a crochety old lady. I would open my mouth if I were you. Just be prepared for them to have an issue with what you say, even if you are right.

It's just is plain rude. She apparently thinks it is that's why she called herself the azzhole, so then azzhole, STOP DOING IT.

Message edited 8/28/2008 4:21:12 PM.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

I can understand your frustration especially if you feel she can park somewhere else. Either talk to her about it or I would one day get to your house early enough and leave your car in that spot for a few days so she gets the hint. My new neighbor did this the other day (but mind you i'm expecting) and if they take my 'spot" i'm literally in my other neighbors way when he backs out of his driveway. So the next day I took my spot back so to speak lol and neighbor hasnt parked there since.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

I would try to mention something nicely to her. If she continues to do it, then I would just park my car in front of the house at all times.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

While it would bother me, I think I would only say something if it was truly becoming an issue. i would park in "her spot" whenever I could.

A grass is always greener story for you (hopefully to make you smile a bit). I had a very self-centered friend in HS. If we were all getting together at someone's house and she couldn't find a spot in front of/near that person's house (which was always, as she was always late), she would park in someone nearby's driveway!!!!! It didn't matter if that person had a car in their driveway and she was blocking them in. She really didn't see anything wrong with this - which is the most amazing part. We all started asking her where she had parked when we realized she was doing this and then went out with her to make her move her car. People are nutty!

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

Start keeping your car out there until she gets the hint. and on the weekends, move your car in front of her house and put your dh's in front of yours.

Message edited 8/28/2008 8:01:04 PM.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

my neighbor parks in front of my house as well. mind you he has a long azz driveway that can hold up to 3-4 cars and then he has the front of his own house.. but I don't get why he HAS to park in front of ours? DH actually parked our car in front of our house.. maybe soon he'll catch on.

Re: Neighbor/parking in front of house question

What's infront of their house that they cant park there...

I'd either (a) park in front of their house or (b) park a car infront of your house before they do...