Parking/Jerk Alert: South Boston
Well, watch where you park if you’re going to dinner, lunch or taking care of other business on West Broadway. The lot behind Eastern Bank – which used to be a sort of “in the know” sneaky parking lot where people could park while they supported local businesses is now an enforced tow zone so beware! Consider yourself warned, if you park there, you will be towed. Big Brother is watching.
It appears to owner of the lot, it trying to take back control of the lot and doesn’t want anyone parking there even after bank hours. Eastern Bank was also informed that their lease for the lot will not be renewed. So does the owner of the lot just want the lot to be empty after bank hours? Yes, evidently he does. He also put up jersey barriers blocking entrance/exit to his lot on West Third Street.
So there you have it, even though this guy has a giant lot – that will be empty at night – he doesn’t want anyone parking there. As for what he has in store for the lot after his lease with Eastern Bank is up, is unclear but we’ll guess it has something to do with condos, right?
And to add insult to injury, the lot owner doesn’t even live in the neighborhood. And guess what? It’s not just our neighborhood, he also owns a giant lot in Adams Village in Dorchester and does the same thing. Come on! Be good neighbor! #Jerkstore.
So watch where you park!
On a side note, we think that all businesses with empty parking lots at night should open it up to residents for overnight parking (we’re talking to you Rite Aid and Stop and Shop) just like some of the public schools. In after closing out before opening. What do you think?
You can rent spots over night there through Downtime Parking
Well it is his or her property, they paid for it and pay taxes on it. Not sure I can really have a beef with someone for not letting the general public use their property for nothing. Trash, plowing etc liability maybe? It is private property.
I have a bigger issue with the spots in the muni lot being given to zip cars to be honest. (for the record, I don’t know the owner)
The spaces reserved for Enterprise make me even more furious, but the Zip spaces are annoying too. There are usually six empty spaces in that lot while people circle around waiting for someone to leave – the three HP, the Zip, and Enterprise spots. It PISSES ME OFF.
Well take the gd. Bus what do you think they have them for OMG
Our local city council should of worked on getting the city to make an offer for the lot when it was on the market, Since it is a private lot the owner I can’t blame him for not letting everyone use it especially since people are disrespectful by throwing trash out of there car and leaving it in the lot.
I really don’t think the word “Jerk” is used as frequently as it could be used these days! Thank you Maureen. Love the article!!!
How much you want to bet he is going to sell off the spots as “condo spots, like the ones on G street
Why shouldn’t he? Would you do that or just keep providing free parking to whoever felt like using your property. Do you have a driveway? Do you let random people park there when you aren’t using it?
I agree with the other post. The owner has the last say in what can be done on their property. It’s too bad that lot will not be available for use to patronize the businesses on West Broadway.
We can just chalk it up to the ongoing changes around us.
In time that land will be developed. Sooner, rather than later.
Not if we vote out the dirtbags who are determined to build on every square inch of space – Yeah, I’m looking at YOU Mayor Marty!
I want to get a t-shirt made saying NO! I will NOT sign your nomination papers for Marty Walsh! I prefer grass and trees to glass and steel, thank you very much.
It’s going to happen whether you like it or not. Sad, but true.
How does voting anyone out keep this person from limiting his spaces who actually pay him to park there?
Move to the suburbs then.
To be honest, this is a ridiculous position to take. Maureen you are usually quite reasonable in your opinions but this is just downright moronic. Why would a property owner willingly pay for others to use their property for free? Just to be nice? Should he just stand in front of Lincoln and hand people beer money to be nice as well? Sheesh awful take.
Agreed. Too many special snowflakes whining…just. stop.
Eastern Bank used to let Downtime Parking re-rent the spots out at night, The South Boston Community health center still works with Downtime and so does Mass Bay credit union. Spots aren’t free because i’m sure they need to consider liability on their property but at least they’re letting the community use their spots at night:)
So I’m guessing you’d like to be told what to do with your property too? Didn’t think so. And half the people parking are drinking across the street at Lincoln all day that aren’t from Southie, then driving home.
Stop being a gossip monger about every single story.
Sad! Deleting inoffensive comments because you don’t like an opinion someone has.
Sorry someone took your parking spot so you can’t go get free food from Capo/Lincoln for writing great reviews and shameless plugs.
What the hell are you talking about? No one is deleting comments. I have to manually go in and hit approve. Wait a minute. Gheesh! And I wish I got free food from Lincoln and Capo but I pay like everyone else. This is a business and I have advertisers. That’s how I make money. Relax, Francis!
Maybe the city shpuld try and purchase for the good of the neighborhood..
Here’s a third thumbs up for the previous comments. The litigious world has made it a necessity for owners to protect and secure their property from those who need protection from themselves.
Not even close BTW on the wild ‘guess’ that the ‘bank was informed their lease for the parking lot would not be renewed’. No doubt this tidbit was overheard waiting in line for Starbucks.
One more point, When is the last time the author of this article let a total stranger park in her driveway for the goose egg?
Give up the super-sleuth reporting and do something really productive for the community—I heard Starbucks is hiring…..
Two comments deleted in a row!?
Get a backbone and let people have an opinion.
You constantly profit off of small businesses offering you free meals and talk about your personal and private property but yet go all “jerk alert” when you see fit.
This is someone’s private property and it most likely cuts down on non-Southie residents parking all day to go drink and drive later.
Get over it. It’s their lot, their freedom.
If I owned a parking lot or a business that had a parking spot, you can be sure I wouldn’t want random people using it to park their cars off hours. Why would anyone want to deliberately take on that liability with zero upside? ‘Good neighbor’? How about not having the audacity to expect that private property be made available to solve your parking issues? And since when do you have to live in South Boston to own property? Scary mentality here.
I respectfully disagree with my South Boston Brethren (I assume from Southie) in the previous post. A little bit of benevolence goes a long way. It would behoove the Merchants within that area to Lobby the owner of that “Lot” to change his decision. It will force People to go to Malls rather than take the chance of a Ticket. For example, I used to frequent Gerards Diner in Dorchester (Note: Gerards is no longer there) until this guy made the Lot so convoluted that I stopped going there. One could argue successfully that may have been the catalyst for Gerards demise. That said, I hope the Owner reconsiders this Draconian decision.
Fuck Southie! I was borned and raised there and I’m glad i fucking left. Southie fucking blows dick along with Boston and the BTD. I visited family yesterday around 7pm. They live on West Broadway and Est. After spending 20 minutes looking for a spot i found on right in front of their place on West Broadway. I decided to do some laundry first and then go visit family. I put a load in the wash and went to put my detergent back in my car when i noticed i got the boot. I owed them $388. 105 which was a fee for the boot. So i really owed $283. Which was actually $160 but they gave me late charges because the pay by plate system sent the mail to the wrong address. Once again. Everything is my fault and it comes out of my pocket. So fuck southie, fuck boston, and fuck the BTD and any politician that supports this bullshit.
“Borned”.. you’re very bright
Well, if you a) park legally and b) pay your tickets, you wouldn’t have this problem. Not sure how this is Southie/Boston/BYD’s fault.
It is your fault, the whole situation. All you dude. Pay your fines, park legally, or don’t come if you hate it so much.
Lol what? You hate South Boston because you don’t pay parking tickets? Maybe be an adult and take care of your business?
No there’s one you could delete — language?
(Pssst- pay your bills)
Whatever politicians that are on the ballot looking for reelection are not getting my vote.
How are you going to vote for them if you left?? Durrrr
This is a bummer! I’ve lived in southie for 6 years and that lot has definitely been great to park at to visit local businesses, or to have friends park at when going to restaurants. Now without that lot where are people suppose to go? I think the lack of parking in southie could hurt local businesses by preventing people outside southie from wanting to drive to south boston. Also, it’s great to see the neighborhood developing but sad to see all these extemely overpriced condos and rentals that normal people can’t afford. Is southie becoming too expensive to live in now?
This is a bummer! I’ve lived in southie for 6 years and that lot has definitely been great to park at to visit local businesses, or to have friends park at when going to restaurants. Now without that lot where are people suppose to go? I think the lack of parking in southie could hurt local businesses by preventing people outside southie from wanting to drive to south boston. Also, it’s great to see the neighborhood developing but sad to see all these extemely overpriced condos and rentals that normal people can’t afford. Is southie becoming too expensive to live in now?
Of course it was a nice bonus, but it’s not a private citizen’s responsibility to provide you with free parking. If you had a driveway, but no car, and you let me park there for free for 6 years….then decided to buy a car and told me I couldn’t park there anymore, should I be mad at you?
And the answer is no, they can’t be mad.
Why the heck doesn’t someone build a parking garage? We would not mind paying to park. Someone please build a parking garage so we can support the local businesses. CVS doesn’t even have a parking lot.
If the profit margin was there for a garage, someone would build one. It’s not like there are proposals that are getting shot down by the city or the neighborhood. If you have a big enough piece of land for a garage, other uses bring in much more money and therefore the land owner will pursue the profit… It’s the free market at work. The other problem is that garages take a LOT of space, much more than people realize. Therefore, there are very few lots even big enough to build a garage.
If I had the resources to do so I would build a parking garage so fast it would make your head spin. No clue why people don’t try it. After the initial investment the upkeep is minimal and people will pay outrageous prices to park. See Seaport.
Irrelevant if it’s their property, leased or otherwise. If it’s not public parking, it’s not public, don’t park there or be towed.
There shouldn’t even be a debate here. Unless you plan on opening up your private driveway for me to park in, there is no debate. Its his legal property. If someone slips and falls on ice, he will get sued for not properly maintaining his lot. In fact, as someone in commercial RE, I would urge him to keep this lot closed to the public for his own sake. His insurance company will come back and argue that he should have had the lot secured and he could be held personally liable. Unless he charges for paid parking, keep it closed.
does anyone know what the deal is with the parking lot on D St. and W 8th? in the 3+ years i’ve been here i’ve never seen one car there and yet it’s always plowed (adds insult to injury in the winter when i have to park in a garage in Fort Point) room for at least 30 cars!
Such a bummer! I was parked there on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and was under the impression it was one hour parking, I showed up 70 minutes later, so technically over the hour mark, and my car was gone. They are definitely patrolling and actively towing so follow the signs or be prepared to pony up the $127.50 to get your car back!