Parking lot Story. Would you be pissed?

[BlitzPuppet]

Edit for 11/20

When I was leaving for work this morning I saw the car had a bright green sticker on the drivers side window that is usually put on cars warning them that they will be towed. When I got back from work the sticker was ripped off with residue glue/paper remaining on the window. The car was not moved and the tags are still out of date.

Seems to be turning into a battle between the Apartment Management and whoever the hell the owner is. (Turned out to be the people we thought if was.)

My GF and I parked in a different spot and no one is parking next to the guy. The original "storage spot" that he parked in remains open.

Edit 11/19:

Called Apartment office asking about their policy on unregistered vehicles parking in the parking lot. They told me the car had to be up to date, could only have 2 per apartment or 1 per bedroom (whichever is greater), and the car had to be driven every day as this is not a storage lot. They then asked me if I was calling about the Caddy with the trash can in the passenger seat...

She said that she had noticed it a few weeks before but forgot to sticker the warning, but then actually did it the day before I called since the car hadn't moved in months and was way past due for inspection/registration. She said the balls already rolling on it and they'll take care of it. I didn't request a thing other than the rules.

She doesn't know who the owner of the car is and actually asked me...I admitted I had no idea as you never see anyone driving it, but I did tell her it showed up when the people moved into their apartment so we just assumed it was theirs.

Original Post:

Okay little backstory.

My girlfriend and I both have brand new 2013 vehicles, and we live in an apartment. Parking is unassigned but people generally have "self claimed permanent parking spaces" and everyone is generally respecting of that.

We have lived here for a year and started parking on this center grass island in order to be close to our building, but separated from the main traffic flow of the apartments and random people coming and throwing their doors open.

Old satellite pic...The Blue circle is where we park. We have a neighbor that moved in around 3 or so months ago that has a Blue late 90's Caddy that is beat up (trim falling off, ghetto rims, etc) and when they moved in this car showed up in the 2nd parking spot from the left (Red circle). And NEVER MOVED and had EXPIRED registration AND inspection tags. I thought it was abandoned at first since it had a garbage can in the passenger seat and 3 cardboard pallets of pediasure in the back seat. It never moved until today.

Fast forward to today I get home, plenty of spots avail (a little less along the road than what is in this picture) and this asshole is in "our" spot. I think maybe it's there temporarily and maybe it finally got tags. Nope...still expired. I see one of the people from that apartment come down as I park, I get out of the car and start walking to my building and say "hey man how's it going?" He stares and ignores me and walks past. Ooookay.

So apparently they don't like us and just want to be dicks. We've gotten hints before as if they open the door and see us in the hallway they'll shut it instead of crossing paths with us...very strange. I have a feeling that car is going to be sitting there for the remainder of our lease as this is the first time I've EVER seen it moved. Are they jealous because we have new cars and through their eyes are doing better? Because they're racist? A mixture of both?

we're not the only ones who do this as there is a woman who drives a Mercedes and a Jeep liberty who park on the opposite end of the island. She usually double parks now ever since some crappy run down neon parked next to her.

Just want to see if anyone else would be annoyed about someone (knowingly) taking the spots that you park in just to be a dick to you, or if I'm overreacting.

 

[CA19100]

I'd be annoyed at the attitude, but as for the parking, not really -- unassigned parking is unassigned parking. On some properties, it really stinks.

However... about half the lease agreements I've signed over the years mention that cars with expired tags will be towed from the property. If your lease says the same, it might be worth a phone call to your landlord (or the towing company on the signs) to get the ball rolling on the "abandoned" car.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, there's a good chance you can get the car towed.

 

[Meghan54]

I'd be annoyed at the attitude, but as for the parking, not really -- unassigned parking is unassigned parking. On some properties, it really stinks.

However... about half the lease agreements I've signed over the years mention that cars with expired tags will be towed from the property. If your lease says the same, it might be worth a phone call to your landlord (or the towing company on the signs) to get the ball rolling on the "abandoned" car.

Yep. Nailed it.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Sounds like a little of both. Since parking is essentially free for all, you're both going to see each other as assholes and, given the situation, you're both right.

I understand wanting ideal parking for your newer car but when there's no officially claimed spots, any attempts to put them 'in the wrong' for 'taking your spot' is going to be viewed as blatantly self-serving and asshole-y.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You are better than him. You deserve the best parking spot.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

I'd be annoyed at the attitude, but as for the parking, not really -- unassigned parking is unassigned parking. On some properties, it really stinks.

However... about half the lease agreements I've signed over the years mention that cars with expired tags will be towed from the property. If your lease says the same, it might be worth a phone call to your landlord (or the towing company on the signs) to get the ball rolling on the "abandoned" car.

Everyone else between the two buildings have accepted and are okay with us always parking there.

The only places that have "reserved" parking are the garaged apartments...I'm not paying $1600-2,400 a month so I can have an official assigned spot. Screw that.

Yeah, there's a good chance you can get the car towed.

Debating that now, my girlfriend was pissed when she found out what they did since A. That means she won't be able to park there, and B. That car will most likely stay there for a very long time and not move.

Of course there is the risk of retaliation....

Sounds like a little of both. Since parking is essentially free for all, you're both going to see each other as assholes and, given the situation, you're both right.

I understand wanting ideal parking for your newer car but when there's no officially claimed spots, any attempts to put them 'in the wrong' for 'taking your spot' is going to be viewed as blatantly self-serving and asshole-y.

Yup, and there is the risk of retaliation there. We may ask them to MOVE us to another building as we've had issues with multiple people in our building slamming their doors/having people pound on their doors at all hours of the night

You are better than him. You (both) deserve the best parking spot.

My girlfriend would agree.

Going to call the office tomorrow and see what I can do as I remember there was a limited number of cars allowed PER apartment + tag rule. The tags aren't out by just a couple months, they're over a year to a year and a half past expired.

Trying to stay out of jail here :biggrin:

 

[Mermaidman]

Sounds like typical apartment life. :|

Should've bought clunkers, and saved those shiny new cars for when you have a garage.

 

[jolancer]

unless theres more details on the type of place this is, or more of a story behind it... as Mermaidman stated, its kinda typical... however ill add my 2cents of commen sense...

Avoiding you doesn't neccesarily mean they dislike you or are racist or whatnot... you may not know what's going on with people, or the situation there in or what they have been through, and sometimes people are depressed and just want to stay away from others that seem like they have not suffered any hardship or may not understand what there going through or have been through, or are just tired of others pitty... Alternatively if they are obviouse drug addicts or something stupid that's a hole different game, i don't play around with thos type of ppl anyway... I will note however due to personal experiences there are some true mental disabilities that resemble very much like brain dead drug addicts, but are not. so can't really blame most for confusing the two.

Also isn't there a possability that they did not know you cared about parking there? perhaps they moved the car there because it rarely moves and were just trying to get it out of others way?

If it were me i would not call in there car... untill you politely nock on there door and ask them if they would care to move the car so your girl can park next to you?... see what they say

 

[pcgeek11]

untill you politely nock on there door and ask them if they would care to move the car so your girl can park next to you?... see what they say

This. Try talking to someone instead of making all of those blind suppositions. It is better than starting a pissing match.

 

[CA19100]

This. Try talking to someone ...

He did. The guy walked right past him like he didn't exist.

 

[pcgeek11]

He did. The guy walked right past him like he didn't exist.

I get out of the car and start walking to my building and say "hey man how's it going?" He stares and ignores me and walks past. Ooookay.

That is a greeting and not a conversation.

 

[nerp]

Stop acting so entitled. Find a new spot and move on. You're really going to get in a huff over a parking spot? Before you get all riled up and righteous, remind yourself you're living in an apartment complex and subject to the same terms and conditions as everyone else there. When you own your own home and some idiot is parking on your lawn, then you have a right to be upset. Until then, suck it up, be a man, and park your car somewhere else.

 

[leper84]

Two options-

1) Find an apartment with assigned parking for everyone (awesome)

2) Get the hell out of apartments and lease a house (moar awesomer)

I've been in the same situation as you, parked in the same spot for almost a year when someone who had been there a couple months already decided to park their clunker and not move it. BS, but not really much you can do without being as much of a douche canoe as they are.

 

[jaedaliu]

Yup, and there is the risk of retaliation there. We may ask them to MOVE us to another building as we've had issues with multiple people in our building slamming their doors/having people pound on their doors at all hours of the night

Here's my non-car solution to your problem:

Move to a nicer part of town. Your cars are too nice to be in an area where ?strangers? ?bill collectors? ?estranged family members? ?drug dealers? ?drug seekers? ?the cops? come pounding on doors in the middle of the night.

Buying brand new cars demonstrates your financial ability to move. It's worth paying your penalty to break your lease if you and your girlfriend can live in a safer neighborhood.

 

[jaha2000]

Dont like it?
Move to a spot with assigned parking or get a house.
your no more entitled to park there than anybody else. I had somebody move my motorcycle at a apartment i lived in once cause i parked in "their" spot.. Recorded it and surprised them with a visit from the 5-0.

 

[_Rick_]

Move away from the poor people, simple as that. Can't be seen to be associated with this riff-raff.

 

[LTC8K6]

Hey, if I have to keep my vehicle registration current to park here, than so does everyone else...

 

[exdeath]

You're screwed. Guess who's cars are getting keyed and tires slashed and windows busted if the hoopty gets towed?

Fuck apartments and non completely enclosed parking.

 

[waggy]

A) notify the police there is a abandoned car in the lot. that will take care of the problem.

b) grow the fuck up. There is not assigned parking spots. While you and other people may be "ok" with it someone new moving in does not have to fallow that.

 

[Zivic]

buy a house with a garage. I wouldn't be buying brand new vehicles without a proper place to park them

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Two options-

1) Find an apartment with assigned parking for everyone (awesome)

2) Get the hell out of apartments and lease a house (moar awesomer)

I've been in the same situation as you, parked in the same spot for almost a year when someone who had been there a couple months already decided to park their clunker and not move it. BS, but not really much you can do without being as much of a douche canoe as they are.

That's the plan, we're looking for a house as soon as the lease is up. The thing that pisses me off is that they did this to make us mad...which succeeded.

Move away from the poor people, simple as that. Can't be seen to be associated with this riff-raff.

We're actually in a nice side of town. The poor people move into the 3 bdrms and split rent in order to live somewhere nice, but pay cheap rent.

Besides...this is Houston. It's HIGHLY segregated and if we want to live on the nice side of town (Read "White"...I'm not kidding. It's very obvious) we'll have to shell out a ton of money. Have to decide if it's worth it in terms of a longer commute/higher cost.

You're screwed. Guess who's cars are getting keyed and tires slashed and windows busted if the hoopty gets towed?

Fuck apartments and non completely enclosed parking.

Yep, that's what I'm afraid of. My girlfriend would have no problem going out there and slashing their tires, but I don't want any retaliation in the form of my car being on cinder blocks/keyed senseless.

That is a greeting and not a conversation.

He did. The guy walked right past him like he didn't exist.

They go as far as avoid us if we're in the hallways (if they open the door, see us there, they'll quickly shut it and lock the door). They never say hello, and they give us "mean" looks every time we walk by. I don't know what the F their problem is besides "whitey holdin me down".

Stop acting so entitled. Find a new spot and move on. You're really going to get in a huff over a parking spot? Before you get all riled up and righteous, remind yourself you're living in an apartment complex and subject to the same terms and conditions as everyone else there. When you own your own home and some idiot is parking on your lawn, then you have a right to be upset. Until then, suck it up, be a man, and park your car somewhere else.

Wish that was the case but anyone else I've talked to would be just as pissed as we are, rightly so...even if there are no assigned spots.

People tend to naturally go to where they're comfortable. Office meetings will have people taking the same place even though there are no assigned spots. Parking at work (or anywhere that has the same people go every single time) basically has people parking/going to the same spot. Moving an "abandoned" car that is never driven (they have 4 or so cars in that 1 unit) into a spot that you see the same people park every single time....you wouldn't think they'd get a little peeved?

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Besides, maybe things are different in Tay-Has, but this is something I hear people bitch about constantly.

People who are visiting? Yeah that's not a problem as you know they didn't know and will be leaving soon.

People who have lived there for a while and do it just to take your spot (or in our case, move a car that I don't even know if it runs into the spot so you can't park there). That'll usually piss someone off because it shows either a lack of common courtesy or just someone being an ass.

I guess we all need to "grow up" waggy as I'm sure you've bitched about a clunker parking next to you.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Moving an "abandoned" car that is never driven (they have 4 or so cars in that 1 unit) into a spot that you see the same people park every single time....you wouldn't think they'd get a little peeved?

Newsflash...you don't own nor pay for that spot. Get over it. I park generally in the same spot everyday at work...I don't get pissed when that spot is taken when I go out for lunch. Unless it's assigned to you, it's fair game to anyone.

 

[Kaido]

Sounds like typical apartment life. :|

Apartment life is sometimes like being back in grade school, where you get ridiculous stuff like this going on, whether it was active childishness or passive-aggressive stuff. I would literally rather live in a trailer than go back to an apartment ever again :biggrin: