I live in a gated community in the burbs. The houses are all in top of one another and vary from 1-2 garages. There are no formal parking rules, but everyone pretty much parks one maybe two cars (if their kids started driving) on the street. The two car garage homes basically have no cars on the street. My neighbor directly across from me has remarried and both his adult children and his wife’s adult children reside in the home. They have a one car garage that they don’t use. Their adult children have significant others who sleep over probably every evening. They have six cars of their own and then when the significant others come it can be up to 10 cars. They park in a row across from my house. It looks like alternate side street parking. I’ve tried speaking with him, the board, and our HOA all to no avail. They said parking is too difficult to enforce and moreover, I’m the only one complaining. I really love my home and neighborhood but this is destroying the vibe for me. Any thoughts on next steps? Don’t really want to sink a lot of money into lawyers...
Move?
Why should I have to move? I like my house, I like my neighborhood, I just have one very inconsiderate dolt if a neighbor.
You are the inconsiderate dolt of a neighbor.
@Anonymous You are the one with the problem. The HOA has told you that your neighbor isn't doing anything it can enforce. Ergo, you need to move to a neighborhood where your preferred parking situation is enforced, or you need to suck it up.
I don’t see this as a big issue especially if it’s not interfering with the use of your car.
Do you live in the city?
Yes I do, which may be the reason I don’t see this as a big issue. That said, unless there’s some sort of ordinance in your burb that prevents your neighbor from parking 2 cars maximum on the street, I don’t see how it can be enforced. This is the reason no one is helping you. Your problem is aesthetics. You don’t like the look and feel of so many cars on your street. Unfortunately for you, that’s not enforceable.
Really? I have never been to a gated community that didn’t have parking rules. there is an HOA here. These things are supposed to be regulated. You think it is ok to own 6 cars and not even attempt to use the garage?
Apparently her gated community doesn’t have parking rules and she is the only one in her community who cares. So she may need to find a more like-minded community if this really bothers her.
Yes If I lived in the city it Wouldn’t bother me. But part of the price you Pay to live in a community is for the aesthetics..there is little on the streets except for the line of 10 cars in front of my house. I didn’t sign up for this.
I hear you, but aesthetics isn’t enforceable.
Would it bother you less if there were cars parked all the way up the street? I feel like you're particularly bothered that there's some sort of asymmetry... It really comes across as very precious and snow-flakey.
Actually most HOAs do enforce aesthetic HOA rules.
Sure they are. In a gated community you must maintain your property and apply for permission to make any changes to the facade of your home. It’s all about aesthetics. The HOA just made someone put in landscaping
It's enforceable if it's part of the HOA rules. Clearly this aesthetics preference you have isn't, and so it's not enforceable. Living in a gated community doesn't mean you get everything you want all the time.
Ok, I grew up in queens so I consider myself an expert in the field of disputes about where and how other people park their cars on one's block. The way I see it you have several options here with varying degrees of escalation:
1) you could sit by your window and/or on your front stoop all day long to watch their comings and goings and then stare at them with contempt when they make eye contact (at night, you'll want to turn on a lamp behind you just as they appear for maximum effect).
2) you can park your car in one of their spots (for extra impact, you'll want to park both your cars and have some guests over to park theirs too).
3) you can put your trash cans in their parking spots (for a double whammy effect, you can park your cars in their spots while putting your trash cans in the spots in front of your house).
4) you can park your car across their driveway, then sit and wait for them to come complain, at which point you launch into a tirade about their lack of parking etiquette (bonus points if you pull out photos).
5) you leave notes on their windshield every.single.time they park, with increasing levels of vitriol.
6) you egg their windows.
7) you move away but come back from time to time to leave your car parked in front of their house, ideally while you go on vacation.
This is hilarious hahaha
This is funny and all and I guess no one seems to think it’s a big deal, if I tried to sell my house it would have a negative impact on the sale of the house. its not about symmetry, it’s about congestion. it looks and feels horrible. Nobody does it. He should at least use his garage. He has single handedly made my side of the neighborhood look like Manhattan. Which would be fine if we lived there! But we don’t. if I left a ton of bicycles and debris on my lawn you bet peolle would complain bc it is not aesthetically pleasing and I would be forced to make changes. The HOA has the power to include parking rules and they don’t. I don’t want to move, I love my house and neighborhood. unsurprised at the level of non sympathy here - urban baby is back in full force.
I’m sorry, but not trying to be mean. That said, you sound like a Karen. Worry about it if/when you sell your house.