The Observation Deck

i own goddess blessed on the corner of carabel and madison avenues. i depend on the parking spaces (with meters) on madison avenue for my customers' convenience.
recently, a new business moved on the block, lakewood staffing, and this business is allowing it's employees to park at the meters instead of encouraging them to use the free parking behind the building... they are not putting coins in the meters; they are taking advantage of the free half hour parking by continuously running out and turning the meters...the manager is unsympathetic to my concerns.
today the meters were expired and i called the parking police. i am now getting harassing phone calls from the staff at lakewood staffing and they are walking by my store and making rude & harassing comments.....
any suggestions?

Ms. Curran,

I wrote about another company that did this on Madison. Their neighbors have complained for years with little satisfaction. http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/news/c ... y-lawsuits Just google Calanni Auto repair and you can see years of frustration.

But maybe your neighbors will be more reasonable. Have you tried talking to the owner? Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce? Can they assist you by talking to the other company? Have you asked the planning department in our city to assist? They also may be able to nicely talk to the other company and get them to understand how we all have to share valuable resources.

Good luck. I know how important parking is to a company.

Kathy,
I noticed you didn't mention the name of the new business that is taking up the meter spaces. Is this by your choice, or an oversight?

Maybe if we all knew the name of the business, the owner may be a reader/lurker of the Deck or someone that does know the owner(s) post or lurk, and might mention how we in the Wood prefer being cordial to each other rather than being rude.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Mark Crnolatas wrote:Kathy,
I noticed you didn't mention the name of the new business that is taking up the meter spaces. Is this by your choice, or an oversight?

Maybe if we all knew the name of the business, the owner may be a reader/lurker of the Deck or someone that does know the owner(s) post or lurk, and might mention how we in the Wood prefer being cordial to each other rather than being rude.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Hi Mark,
I believe she said the company is called Lakewood Staffing.

yes, the business name is "lakewood staffing".
i did speak to the owner/manager first; and he told me he could not encourage his employee to park in the back lot (which is free), because she rents an apartment over the business ....
i spoke a few times with the city parking meter division; and i was told there is no time limit, like the two hour limit on downtown lakewood meters, because there are tenants who use the meters.
when the chamber assisted in getting the free 1/2 hour on the meters; i don't think it was intended for someone to come out every half hour and again turn the meter.....
unfortunately, the patrons and employees of this business do not seem to have any pride in lakewood.... daily i clean up litter on the block, most of which is cigarette butts in front of this establishment..
personally, i can't figure out not taking advantage of the free parking in the rear....

What does the fact that she rents the apt have to do with this? I fil to understand the mgrs logic.

CHaryn

Not a unique situation by a long shot.
Seek assistance/involvement from your ward councilman.

ironically, today all my store windows & the door were thouroughly egged...........

Probably just a coincidence.....

Sam's has monitoring systems for under a hundred bucks.......

Jeff

sorry to hear about your store

If you already have a computer set up in there you can add a webcam that saves in a remote location probably for a very low price.

Although Lakewood has a lot of positives, unfortunately there are also a lot of problems despite what some of the kool-aid drinkers say.

Doug