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Post by rebelyelle on Aug 16, 2014 0:12:54 GMT
We live in a residential neighborhood and there is a church across the street. Both DH and I have cars, and our driveway is shared with our neighbors, so only one of us can park our car in the driveway at any given time. DH usually parks in the driveway, and I park my car on the street in front of our house.
There is a church van that parks in "my" spot several times a week. They are aware that I usually park in that particular spot because we see each other all the time outside of our house/the church - we see each other all the time, and I usually waive hello. When they park in "my" spot, it means I either need to park further down the street or across the street - usually I have all of my work bags with me, so it's only one trip and not a huge deal, but many times it's on the weekends and I have bags of groceries and other things to unload. It's starting to really, seriously annoy me that I can't park in front of my house about 50% of the time. They have ample street parking in front of the church on the other side of the street, and particularly when I have tons of bags, it's a hassle to go back and forth between my house and my car.
So the question - should I leave a (polite) note on the church van asking them not to park in "my" spot? Or do I just deal with it? I want to be a good neighbor, but I think that's a two-way street. They know I live in that particular house and park in front of it (when available), and it just feels a little bit rude and inconsiderate that they continue to park in there.
And yes - I know it's a public street. I know that anyone could park there. I know I don't own the spot on the street. But like I said, I know they know who I am, where I live, what car I drive, etc. because we see each other ALL the time.
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Post by Outspoken on Aug 16, 2014 0:15:33 GMT
Could you park on the church side of the street? Just curious as I am trying to figure out in my mind the dynamics.
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Post by Zee on Aug 16, 2014 0:16:37 GMT
That's tough because like you said, it's a public street. But maybe a nice polite note asking if they could leave that spot for you, because it's the only one right in front of your house, would be effective? I'd give it a try.
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 20:28:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 0:17:38 GMT
You deal with it.
-from someone who's always lived in a place with street parking.
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Post by rebelyelle on Aug 16, 2014 0:19:24 GMT
Could you park on the church side of the street? Just curious as I am trying to figure out in my mind the dynamics. I could, but then I need to cross the street multiple times with grocery bags, shopping bags, etc. It's not the end of the world, of course, but it's a hassle. |
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Aug 16, 2014 0:20:19 GMT
You can politely ask but if they keep parking there I would just drop it. Not much you can do since as you know it's a public street. It sucks I know because we have street parking.
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Post by Outspoken on Aug 16, 2014 0:21:45 GMT
Could you park on the church side of the street? Just curious as I am trying to figure out in my mind the dynamics. I could, but then I need to cross the street multiple times with grocery bags, shopping bags, etc. It's not the end of the world, of course, but it's a hassle. So, it's more than a two-Lane street? I figured directly across from your house would be closer than down the street. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 0:23:52 GMT
Why are they parking in your spot? Did someone else take their spot?
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Post by lorieann13 on Aug 16, 2014 0:24:56 GMT
Why doesnt dh allow you to park in the drive way then? Since obviously you have a reason to be closer?
Or switch out and then take a spot on the street?
Its a public road. Its not "your" spot.
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 16, 2014 0:26:48 GMT
Why doesnt dh allow you to park in the drive way then? Since obviously you have a reason to be closer? Or switch out and then take a spot on the street? Its a public road. Its not "your" spot. My thoughts exactly. |
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 20:28:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 0:27:36 GMT
You could put a lawn chair in your spot when you leave. Like midwesterners do when they've snow-shoveled a parking spot for themselves.
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Post by rebelyelle on Aug 16, 2014 0:28:36 GMT
Why are they parking in your spot? Did someone else take their spot? It's a two-lane street. Typically the other side of the street is wide open, so I future they just don't want to turn around and park on the other side of the street. |
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Post by Dreamsofnyssa on Aug 16, 2014 0:35:47 GMT
I would be tempted to call the church office and ask why the van parks in front of your house when there is ample parking in front of the church itself. Does the church not have its own parking lot?
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 16, 2014 0:36:26 GMT
If the church van isn't there, is the spot usually open? Is it always the same person driving the church van?
I don't know if I'd say anything, but, if the street spot is open, whoever is home first would take it leaving the driveway for our second car.
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 20:28:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 0:38:12 GMT
Can you park further down the road, in front of your neighbor's house?
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 16, 2014 0:38:34 GMT
I see no problem with nicely calling the pastor of the church and asking them not to park in front of your home and why.
You've go nothing to lose by trying, nicely.
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 16, 2014 0:40:18 GMT
You could put a lawn chair in your spot when you leave. Like midwesterners do when they've snow-shoveled a parking spot for themselves. Great idea. . .do it the Chicago way! A couple of crappy lawn chairs and a broom will tell the world no one had better park in that spot. Of course this really only applies after a decent amount of snow which you spent a good amount of time removing. |
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Post by rebelyelle on Aug 16, 2014 0:42:50 GMT
If the church van isn't there, is the spot usually open? Is it always the same person driving the church van? I don't know if I'd say anything, but, if the street spot is open, whoever is home first would take it leaving the driveway for our second car. Yes, the spot is always open if the church van isn't parked there - it's a residential neighborhood and everyone else always parks in "their" spot on the street, or in their driveway. I don't park in our driveway because it's VERY steep and narrow, and it's a shared driveway with our neighbors. I don't feel comfortable backing out of it into the street. DH parks there because his car has a rear camera, and it's easier/safer to pull out of the driveway with his car. |
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Aug 16, 2014 0:44:21 GMT
I'm another pea who thinks that asking them politely if they could not park in front of your house is ok.
Sure it's a public street, and parking down the road is ok, and switching spots with her Dh is ok, but not having the van in front of her house is also ok.
I wouldn't park in front of someone else's house regularly. It just isn't nice.
Since the church has ample parking options I don't think it's a big deal to ask. Maybe bake them a batch of cookies when they move the van.
Paige.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Aug 16, 2014 0:45:51 GMT
I'd call the church and ask them to park on their side of the street. And tell them why it's difficult for you when they take your spot. They would want to know if they're inconveniencing their neighbors. If you leave a note on the van whoever drives it that day will see it, but any other drivers of the van won't get the memo and know not to park there.
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Post by rebelyelle on Aug 16, 2014 0:47:58 GMT
Thanks everyone for the responses. I really appreciate it. I don't want to be rude, but I don't want to stew about it either!  |
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Post by melanell on Aug 16, 2014 1:10:34 GMT
My grandparents lived in an old town where the homes were closed together and very few had driveways. It was "first come, first served" on their block in terms of parking. I would figure that the church may view that spot as "theirs" just as you do, kwim? So i probably would not ask them about it, *however*, if you politely asked me about it, I would answer you politely back. Mind you my answer might be that I like that spot best and we can continue to take turns parking there, kwim? best of luck! |
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 16, 2014 1:15:45 GMT
Given this, I would approach the church nicely and ask them to leave the spot in front of you house open if there is room in front of the church. I'm sure whoever is parking there is oblivious to the impact on you and that the church wants to be a good neighbor.
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marimoose
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Post by marimoose on Aug 16, 2014 1:16:54 GMT
My thoughts are it is a public street so not really your spot. It does sound inconvenient and maybe politely asking the van driver or church pastor might work, on the other hand, it might make them park there more.These situations are hard to read. Good luck
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Post by SunnySmile on Aug 16, 2014 1:21:38 GMT
I don't know if I'd say anything, but, if the street spot is open, whoever is home first would take it leaving the driveway for our second car. |
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Post by melodyesch on Aug 16, 2014 1:45:36 GMT
We live in a residential area where most people have 1 car detached garages so they have to park on the street. We have a 2 car detached at the back of the house. So there is no reason for us to park in front of our house. But the neighbor across the street and 3 houses up has a piece of crap little truck that he uses for weekend/side jobs. They park both of their really nice cars in front of their house and parked that crap mobile RIGHT IN FRONT of our house for 10 years. It really, REALLY bugged the pi$$ out of my DH but he sucked it up because it's a public street.
But last spring DH got sick of looking at it so he put a note on the windshield asking if they would please not park right in front of our house and park on the side street? The guy wrote back a nice note and put in the mailbox apologizing and saying that he should have been more considerate about parking it right in front of our house. So now everyday he's parked on the side street.
So, after 10 years, a nice note was all that is needed. So no, I don't think it would hurt to ask.
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Post by myshelly on Aug 16, 2014 1:49:24 GMT
I think you need to stop thinking about it as "your" spot.
Public street, public parking, the end.
I've never hard of shared driveways before - how very interesting.
Here it is not uncommon to have huge driveways.
My parents' driveway parks 5 cars. My grandpa's driveway parks 6 cars.
Mine only parks 2 and feels small, lol, but it's all mine.
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Post by Debbie on Aug 16, 2014 1:52:28 GMT
I don't know if I'd say anything, but, if the street spot is open, whoever is home first would take it leaving the driveway for our second car. |
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Post by mom2samlibby on Aug 16, 2014 2:10:13 GMT
I understand that public streets are public, but I think it's rude to park in front of someone's house all the time. Wouldn't the church have a parking lot for the van? I'd ask them if they could park somewhere else.
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akathy
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Post by akathy on Aug 16, 2014 2:14:54 GMT
I think you need to stop thinking about it as "your" spot. Public street, public parking, the end. I've never hard of shared driveways before - how very interesting. Here it is not uncommon to have huge driveways. My parents' driveway parks 5 cars. My grandpa's driveway parks 6 cars. Mine only parks 2 and feels small, lol, but it's all mine.  |
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