Parking Permits in Queens?
The issue has come up in several conversations I’ve been in over the past couple of weeks - parking permits possibly coming to Queens. Especially in LIC (and by extension, Astoria) and Forest Hills, two places that are transit hubs that attract “park-and-riders”, and two places that recently had DOT-hosted community workshops on parking. With congestion pricing coming, a new approach to parking is necessary. And I think we can all agree on this, regardless of what we think individually about the whole congestion pricing plan.
They’re also talking about this in Brooklyn, another of the outer boroughs that will be impacted by potential park-and-riders. One particular aspect of parking being discussed is residential parking permits, and the idea of having to pay for such a permit. Paid parking permits exist in many big cities, like Washington DC and Boston, and they cost about $100/year.
But what about the idea of not charging for parking permits? Just prove that you live at your residence through your insurance and registration, and you get your permit. However, this, I think, would not go over with a lot of people because they circumvent paying the high price of NYC insurance and registration by taking care of that business in other (read: cheaper) parts of the state or in a completely different state! One friend of mine said “Look at all the out of state license plates in this [Astoria] neighborhood. People register their cars, say, upstate or in the Poconos, where they have relatives or second homes.”
Parking permits might make off-street parking even more valuable, and maybe even increase the value of the home it’s attached to.
Residential parking permits - what do you think of them? Do you like the idea or think it’s crap?
Related:
Bloomberg eying resident-only parking permits
[NY Daily News]
What? Pay for street parking?! [The Brooklyn Paper]
Workshops to Address Queens Neighborhood Parking [previously on OuterB]
Some are obsessed with the idea of 
Astoria
Forest Hills
Jackson Heights
Little Neck
Sunnyside
Astoria
Forest Hills
Long Island City
Richmond Hill
The Daily News highlights the Forest Hills Stadium, the tennis stadium where the US Open originated. It really needs some sprucing up, and theWest Side Tennis Club (they own the stadium currently) started a capital campaign in 2004 to raise funds to restore it. It’s important to restore it because of its historic and cultural value. Not only was it the place that great athletes met but in 1950, Althea Gibson played in the US Open - she was the first American black player in the event. A lot of musicians played the Stadium, including Frank Sinatra, Simon and Garfunkle, and the Rolling Stones.
Lots about Forest Hills in the news recently regarding a new shopping center “Coming Soon”. This would be a 2-story center, rather than a larger one that was originally planned. Forest Hills 72 says in response to Barbara Stuchinski’s (president of the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association) protestations, : “I can see fighting the destruction of hundred year old townhouses for bland office buildings, but knocking down a chop-shop for retail? What’s the problem people? Barbara, you got what you wanted, the houses are safe. Let the guy build his little shopping center. If he lands a Cosi or West Elm, would you still be for the broke-down auto repair?” The Daily news has the extended article that FH72 is analyzing.
