Parking is not always prime during events at Rexall Place. While some circle, others seek spots in neighbouring communities causing concern for some local residents.
About seven years ago, illegal parking around Commonwealth Stadium was a huge issue in Edmonton. The city cracked down, towing cars and handing out huge fines. After about four years, it saw a noticeable improvement in people’s parking practices.
But now one city resident says he wants to see similar enforcement in his neighbourhood of Montrose.
Since space on the street is limited there, for a fee, some residents offer up their driveways, parking pads and even lawns.
“It brings the whole look of the neighbourhood down,” says one resident who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation from those selling spots. “I mean, you drive down here and you see cars all over front lawns and it destroys the grass, it destroys the boulevards.”
“Most people that are offering that service of allowing people to park on their property and also charging or operating a business are doing so without the proper permissions,” says Ryan Pleckaitis with the City of Edmonton.
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To convert your property into parking you need two things: development approval and a business license. If you’re caught without them it could cost you.
“We have officers that drive in unmarked vehicles and often times they do get an offer of service from somebody who is charging people to park on their residential or commercial property and once we’ve gathered enough evidence what we can do is issue fines,” adds Pleckaitis.
Fines can total over $800, but the concerned resident says he’s never seen it happen
“You just have to look around the neighbourhood and see the lack of enforcement to see that we’re not a priority,” he says. “We’re non existent.”
The City says it responds to citizen complaints, but enforcement can be challenging since when officers deal with one property owner, others who are also charging for parking quickly shut their operation down.
It’s an explanation that offers little comfort to the resident.
“I hate to see my neighbourhood go downhill like this, this used to be a really nice neighbourhood and it’s not so much anymore.”
If you live near Rexall Place and are experiencing a parking problem, bylaw officials say to call 311, file your complaint and then the city will work with you to try and resolve the issue.
With files from Shannon Greer, Global News
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