It's Going to Be Harder to Park Near Lower Greenville Come St. Patrick's Day

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Feb. 13 2012 at 9:39 AM

Categories: Events, Transportation

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A small piece of the map showing St. Patrick's Day no-parking restrictions, which extend south to Lewis and east to Skillman

It's gettin' close to the most wonderful time of the year for the Barking Dog -- St. Patrick's Day, which is about a month away. Over the weekend, Avi Adelman posted to his website the city and Dallas PD's freshly minted map of street closures planned for Lower Greenville on March 17 -- and, as evidenced by the compare-and-contrast with 2008's map, those no-parking restrictions keep growing and growing and growing. "We're very close to putting parking restrictions way up to Abrams Road," writes Avi. "Those residents are ignored year after year."

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Corrections - I'm not a resident of the Lower Greenville area but I have had friends "WHO" lived in this area before and there have been a couple of occassions where I "couldNT" leave when visiting, all because I parked in the driveway and due to the cars being double parked on the road, I didn't have any room to pull out of the driveway without hitting another car.
All this whining is ridiculous. I see how it sucks to have to park far away and walk further than desired but I also see the point of not only securing the ability for emergency vehicals to get in and out easier but also, think about the residents trying to get out to simply go to the store, to a relatives house, etc. I'm not a resident of the Lower Greenville area but I have had friends how lived in this area before and there have been a couple of occassions where I could leave when visiting all because I parked in the driveway and due to the cars being double parked on the road, I didn't have any room to pull out of the driveway without hitting another car. So, I ended up having to wait for several hours for the people to get in there cars and go, therefore arriving home at a very late hour. I see a bunch of people on here who's point of view clearly shows that they just like to b*tch about things in general to have their opinion be heard. If you don't like the parking situation and are too lazy to walk down the street to enjoy the parade then don't go to it. lol Simple :)
They put permanent no-parking on the side of the street with the fire hydrant. Gives the fire fighters a clear access for their hoses.
Actually, some of these restrictions are there year-round but happen to be listed on the map. I live in the M streets, and my street is shown to have one side as no parking. This happens to already be a no-parking zone from 10:30 pm to 5 am. Seeing as how I live just down the street from the Granada, I can imagine that this is due to the fact that they anticipate more cars parked there during that time than during the day. Also, my street is so narrow that cars parked on either side leave no room for two cars to pass each other. Not all of the M streets are that narrow, thus the restrictions on some streets but not others. As to why on earth they chose to make the side with the most available curb parking the no parking zone in the first place--well, I have absolutely no idea.
That annoying, silicone infested, $30k-millionaire mecca known as Frisco restricts parking around Warren Sports Complex citing the very same reasons Angela mentioned.
you think people here are so particularly different than they are elsewhere? sorry, but that's just not the case. there are LOTS of people in Austin who do nothing but bitch and moan about outsiders coming into town for music festivals. I'm not talking 80 year old grandmas either. these are people who are in their 20s and go to said music festivals but they can't stand the crowds and they can't stand the traffic it brings, etc.
There ARE restrictions on those two streets - look at the embiggened map.
The more difficult the city makes it for me to get my yearly handful of plastic bead necklaces tossed by girls in trucks advertising insurance agencies and Mexican restaurants, the more likely I am to move out of Dallas altogether.
Who is the "we" in Avi's post? Avi represents exactly one person: Avi. He's even been disowned by the neighborhood group he founded. I've been in attendance at every St. Pat's planning meeting this year. They have been models of cooperation among Greenville business owners, police, special events staff, and actual neighborhood activists. We all work together to make this event fun for everyone while minimizing the negative impact on the residents. And we have achieved success. Compare the 2011 event with 2000, and you'll see that the 2011 crowds were much, much larger while the parking, logistics, trash, and crime problems were much smaller. Avi hasn't attended even one meeting. There are only 2 places in the universe where Avi is considered a neighborhood leader: his own mind and the benighted pages of Unfair Park.
But that is what they do in Ft. Worth and Austin, so that means it is so much better than anything Dallas can ever dream of.
As a Lower Greenville resident, if my house catches fire during the St. Patrick's Day festivities, I can damn well guarantee you I'd prefer this scenario http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelahunt/3221076125/sizes/o/in/set-72157612876734433/ (parking on one side of the street) to this scenario http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelahunt/3355108546/sizes/l/in/set-72157615265891204/ (parking on both sides of the street). You may think that public safety is a "lame excuse" for this parking plan, but I do not.
But where am I supposed to pee if you shut down these streets?
very few people who use the restaurants on Knox/Henderson would take DART. I certainly wouldn't and I'm not even as high maintenance as their core customer. so the parking problem would persist. that's also just as far or even further from the St Patty's action than Mockingbird station or the 21 bus through Uptown
Wait. Seriously? I'm not familiar with these exact streets and if there are any parking restrictions currently in place, but if these streets are too narrow for emergency vehicles if both sides of the streets are parked then why are there not permanent parking restrictions for one side of the street? Sure, there are a lot more cars in the area due to the parade but it's just weird that this is the reasoning you are using in response to this post. If these streets are so narrow that it becomes "impossible" this should be addressed. What if a house on this street has a baby shower any other day of the year? Will emergency vehicles not be able to pass? Please tell me this isn't the real reason. Was this just the best reasoning you could come up with to placate the critics? I am honestly baffled.
4907 Willis Avenue. That's where the DART rail station for the M-Streets sits. Tombstoned. Because the "neighbors" did not want a rail station. So they killed it. Stomped their feet and bitched a storm. DART built one anyway. It sits, carved out and unfinished 100 feet below. That light rail stop would make all this privatized parking permit stuff unneeded. 4907 Willis. Check it out. It has a little awning over the rabbit hole in the sidewalk. The residents cannot wag their finger at the parking problem they helped create.
Its the exact same kind of idiocy.. People in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area are some of the most anal-retentive in the country, especially in the M Streets neighborhood. If you went any other place in this state or country and held a similar street party/event, no one would bitch, moan or gripe like they do here. They should be happy for the business IMHO, as plenty of places would kill for both the location and restaurants they have...
Robert E. Lee is an elementary school, not a high school. Way to go, map!
Guess I learn something new about my own neighborhood every day. As for whether anyone will be shot in the area, already been there done that. I don't agree that BA is the next lowest Greenville in terms of the types of places that will open here though.
HELLO ANGELA I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG CITY BUT NOW PEOPLE ARE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK OUT FRONT AND PARKING IN THE STREET. CAN YOU HELP?! PLEASE ELIMINATE ALL STREET ACTIVITY IN YOUR DISTRICT. MAYBE CAN SOUTHLAKE TAKE OVER RUNNING THINGS? I LIEK IT THERE. THANKS
Your answer is to build surface lots ?! You've got to be kidding.
Avi even brags about and takes credit for this small business development killer on his website. I hope the folks at Bolsa have a back up plan.
Dear Angela: Why is there no parking restriction in the 5900 and 6000 blocks of Prospect? Sincerely; Paul
The "Barking Dog" should be neutered and made to wear "the cone of shame", or at least one of those Bark Off collars for a while... "Are you gonna bark all day little doggy?" :P
Maybe I am out of touch but I was under the impression that this event has mandated parking on single side of street for a couple years now. The fact that Avi posted this is the only reason people are getting in an uproar right now
Where in Bishop Arts is parking restricted?
I think we can all agree that the emergency services excuse is lame at best. This is what politicians say when they've run out of options. Instead, Councilman Hunt and Avi should hold a joint press conference clearly explaining the new restrictions and stating why they truly believe such restrictions are reasonable and necessary. I'm a reasonable person and would love to hear why these restrictions must extend all the way to Abrams. However, I think the true source of the public's ire is that maybe, just maybe, Barking Dog has gone too far with no end goal in sight. Barking dogs are good when they bark at danger. Barking dogs are a nuisance when they bark all the time. I think we have become accustomed to the later. Boy who cried wolf and all that...
this plan looks pretty damn reasonable if you ask me. if I was a neighbor right there, I wouldn't care about drunk people puking and pissing in my front yard. my dog does worse on a daily basis (I assume most people don't get drunk enough to drop a load, but that would actually annoy me). but why should the city work to make it convenient for people to come to the block party, get drunk, and then drive to their next location? because that's what would annoy the hell out of me as a resident of that area. in fact, it pisses me off as a non-M street resident because I may be driving elsewhere in town and some drunken idiot will be sharing the streets. the city already built a system to deal with events like this. it's called DART. if you can't take a train from Deep Ellum and walk your ass from Mockingbird station to this party, you are lazy. I have also taken the 21 bus to McKinney and Monticello and walked from there (double bonus because you can get a few shots at Corner Bar, put a beer in a solo cup for the walk, and then there really is no break in the drinking at all). again, if that's too much for you to be bothered with, you are LAZY. the city doesn't offer you door to door service to get to your event of choice and you accuse them of somehow dropping the ball? take some personal responsibility. the reality is that parking on both sides of the street during that event is a public safety concern and anyone who denies it is kidding himself. this is not the neighbors trying to ruin your fun, and let's get real - the possibility of that event requiring emergency services is fairly high.
What is the ultimate goal here? Is the goal to rid Lower Greenville of the St. Patrick's Day Parade entirely? Is the goal to turn Lower Greenville into a series of antique shops and second hand thrift stores? That's fine if it is, but just define what Barking Dog's long term goal is here. We already know the short term goal - no parking ever. M Streets residents should be forced to reimburse Dallas taxpayers for the privatization of public roadways. I question the legality of an ordinance that allows one group of taxpayers to exclude another group of taxpayers from using public roadways - yes, that especially includes parking. I am concerned that this growing trend (e.g. Bishop Arts District) will stymie further development and destroy neighborhood businesses. It does not need to be an either or existence. For example, Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood does not limit street parking, but yet this neighborhood is still one of the most sought out and businesses find a way to thrive. After all, if the San Antonio Rose were forced to shut down where would Chief Kunkle walk to for a beer?
Angela, I love ya, but the NAs & the city need to work towards building a surface lot for people to park in for these type of events, not to mention work w/providing shuttles as well. I know the cities in the hole right now for building things we dont need like hotels and bridges to nowhere, but this is something that's been a vital need for years.. Also, I always find it funny the neighbors get their "knickers in a twist" this time of year w/ this event. These folks should know that a street event is going to happen in their neighborhood. I live in ellum and I take it as gospel every single evening something is going on, yet I go on w/ my life and handle up as such. Instead of being a bunch of crybabies, be proactive and help in the process, be part of the solution, not more of the same problem..
Why does every story seem to be about private groups taking city resources for their own private purposes while being offended that anyone dare question their pure motives?
Sure am glad I was there in the late 70s and early 80s when it was fun, laid-back and funky. Reminds me of those idiots in Euless that bought houses across the street from DFW who sued because of the jet noise.
Note that these streets are narrow, residential streets. The city isn't closing down these streets to parking altogether. As we've done for years, the city is closing one side of these streets for parking so emergency vehicles can get through and the streets are passable. If both sides of the street are parked, it becomes impossible for residents, fire trucks, EMS, police, and visitors to get through. Last year, some streets that didn't have no-parking on one side were overrun with cars and impassable. That's why this is being implemented.
AVI is a doooche!
Great, it's going to be harder to park? It's like 1000 Avi Adelman's gone wild. Don't want people parking on your street,and poopin' in yer yard, move to Southlake. Can you IMAGINE if Avi was your dad, or hsband? What a frickin' beating!
You should sing the praises of the man who can bring a Wal*Mart to your area .. With that kind of power you should want him angry with you ?
Thanks for the Wal-Mart, Avi! I'm so glad we got your "community retail". Run out the businesses most of us moved down here for, install your idiotic vision of suburban big box paradise, and... Well, I still don't even know what your endgame is.