Nov.28, 2017 By Tara Law
A local civic group is backing a state bill that calls for the establishment of a parking permit program in East Elmhurst, and is calling for it to be expanded to parts of Astoria.
Richard Khuzami, president of the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association, said his group supports a bill introduced by Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) in the State Senate last month that would lead to the implementation of a one-year pilot program where residents who live within a two-mile radius of LaGuardia Airport would be eligible to buy parking permits.
The permits, which cost residents about $50 per year, would allow residents to park on certain blocks overnight. This system would ensure residents a parking space near their homes and shorten their search for parking.
Khuzami said parking conditions in Old Astoria, the district he represents–which stretches from 21st Street to the East River and from Astoria Park South to 34th Avenue– are “very bad.” Members of his association frequently complain about parking in the neighborhood, he said.
“Something needs to be done,” Khuzami said. “We’re starting the conversation.”
The state legislature must pass a legislation– like Peralta’s–before a parking permit system can be introduced in New York City.
Although parking permit programs exist in many cities across the country, previous efforts to institute a parking program in New York City have collapsed.
A 2011 effort to bring a program to the neighborhoods near Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center failed.
At the time, the State Senate was controlled by the Republicans who opposed it, arguing that it wasn’t fair that residents should have to pay to park outside their own homes.
Khuzami believes people will get behind Peralta’s bill since they are fed up looking for parking. He said that he likes the idea that the program would be a pilot and would allow local officials to determine whether it works.
If the pilot program is approved, Khuzami said, the Association will be “all over it.”
The State Senate is likely to vote on Peralta’s permit program after the new legislative session begins in January. He is looking for a sponsor in the state Assembly.
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19 Comments
Why not address the cause of insufficient available parking? The problem is that many property owners see a need to convert one or two family buildings into buildings with three, four, five or six apartments. One reason being high property taxes.
All in all a bad idea which will make it difficult for visitors but…
Permits probably be issued to anyone who has a car with a NYS registration in that particular neighborhood zip code, precinct, whatever. Fees would have to be waived for low income people.
This would allow renters to have permits too but would keep out the Astoria residents who register their cars at their summer homes in PA or wherever.
Thinking about it a little more, this could be workable if only 25% of the street parking was permit-only and alternate side parking was strictly enforced so that there is at least a little turnover in those spaces.
I own a home in Astoria but live on Long Island. This space could come in very handy for my airbnb home.
I am a homeowner and I think this is a great idea. My garage is small and only fits my car. My wife needs a space to park her car.
Handicapped residents and senior citizens should get priority and not be charged if this passes.
Buy a house Vicky. Then you can have the privilege of parking permits. We homeowners deserve the right to park in front of our houses. We pay top dollar for property too so you rentals need to stop crying
That right! The permit parking should be for homeowners only and illegally parked cars should be towed away or charged a 50 dollar fine daily for parking illegally that goes to the homeowner.
You should have bought a house with a garage. Don’t blame us you were too stupid to buy property with no room for your car.
This is absolutely disgraceful. Street Parking should be opened to the public and not turned into a private market.
I agree. The streets belong to the public not the homeowner. No home in NYC has possession of a street. Homes go up to the sidewalk.
The rents will sky rocket in these areas if this occurs. Say you have a multi family house, will everyone be granted a parking permit? Traffic and parking is a nightmare in Astoria. Each year it gets worse.
Charge $50 a month its worth it
Having lived in an area with permits, I don’t think this will solve the problem. There are not a huge amount of cars coming from outside; most of the cars are owned by Astoria residents. Permits, however, are a very real hassle when you have guests who drive in. They will NOT be able to legally park. This means that there will have to be a temp permit purchase system. There will also likely be some kind of black market in permits, and also residents who try and cheat the system, get caught, and pay (likely massive) fines. Permits really only work in small, touristy areas (like those near popular beaches), not in cities.
The real solution is harder. It means reducing cars. Some cities around the world require that car owners prove they have a parking space before issuing a license (plate). That usually means a paid parking spot with proof. Large garages like those on Roosevelt Island may be a solution for car owners, but realistically, as a society we need to reduce the number of cars. I gave up my car years ago. For what it costed in gas, insurance, repairs, parking tickets, and not to mention headaches, I figured I could rent a car whenever I really needed one. It was freeing, and do not miss searching for parking one bit. Most Astorians don’t need cars. Just think about it.
Somehow, I don’t see this happening.
If it happens in Astoria, the people in Brooklyn Heights are going to want it. Then the people on the upper east side are going to want it and eventually it will be all over the city probably depriving the city of a lot of parking ticket money.
I can see why they started in a neighborhood within a mile or two of the airport to keep away people who don’t want to pay to park their car @$200 a week.
The streets that have alternate side parking don’t look any cleaner than the ones who don’t. It’s the homeowners’ and storeowners’ responsibility to keep the streets in front of their homes and businesses clean.
Right, people are going to be sweeping in the middle of the street with traffic.
It would look a lot worse without street cleaning.
How about businesses and resident stop sweeping garbage and leave into the street. And how about we ticket littering.
Alternate side parking would be a great start for the residents of 28 Ave east of 44street. The streets are always dirty and people come and leave cars for weeks at a time. Very bad for local businesses as well.
Ban cars.
Ban Scott…