Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Parking issues?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

In addition to what Ann posted, I think using the online calendar to reserve 
the spots available for reservation has been a great help. 

When we moved in several households had 2 cars but we only had one space per 
unit. The second car parked on the street or rented another spot if there was 
one to rent. Over the years, people’s second cars disappeared. And about 5 got 
rid of their first car.

One numbered spot is assigned to each unit, but people are very flexible about 
the use of spots. The ability to be flexible is largely connected to the 
ability to specifically reserve spots. Parking is flexible but not haphazard. 
Sometimes inflexibility is the only way one can protect oneself from a 
haphazard system. If one can’t guarantee that their own space will be available 
to them when they arrive home, they are much less likely to allow sharing. 
Rigid rules become easier to live with because they are less likely to be 
broken.

A major thing we didn’t allow for originally was parking for service people. 
They need it when parking is least available on the street and the proximity 
for carrying heavy equipment is most important. We specified a space along a 
curb that is not a parking space but causes minimum inconvenience if a truck 
parks there during the day — and it is easy to find the owner if it does. 
Recently a lot of units have had HVACs replaced and that requires more than on 
truck. 2 reservable spaces are reserved for them for the duration.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org