It's a common fact - city living usually means parking headaches. That seems to be true in the South Loop as we constantly hear horror stories and frustration. However, Alderman Fioretti seems to want to try to improve this usually painful topic according to the Chicago Gazette:There soon may be five residential parking zones for the South Loop based on an ordinance by 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti.
“This ordinance reflects the findings of a long-term analysis by the Chicago Department of Transportation,” said Fioretti. “Currently there are too many different parking zones in the South Loop,” he continued. “The current residential parking plan has created confusion and has been difficult to understand. In addition, the entire process is cumbersome, with many of the residents having to obtain letters from my office in order to purchase the parking permits.
If you don't like the map we created above and prefer to read, the zones would be:
Zone One: Congress Parkway (north boundary) to Roosevelt Road (south boundary) and the Chicago River (west boundary) to Lake Shore Drive (east boundary).
Zone Two: Roosevelt Road (north) to 18th Street (south) and from the Chicago River (west) to Michigan Avenue (east).
Zone Three: Roosevelt Road (north) to 18th Street (south) and Michigan Avenue (west) to Lake Shore Drive (east).
Zone Four: 18th St. (north) to Stevenson Expressway (south) and Clark St. (west) to Michigan Ave. (east).
Zone Five: 18th St. (north) to Stevenson Expressway (south) and Michigan Ave. (west) to Lake Shore Dr. (east), excluding McCormick Place.
While we don't know many of the details or if this would help alleviate any of the current issues, we have to imagine it would help in some capacity. The South Loop parking situation never seemed to make intuitive sense to us, but this plan seems a little more straightforward in regard to normal shapes (unlike the new ward map which makes a mockery out of your standard shapes).
Hopefully this helps. What are your thoughts?
What about getting rid of the idiotic restriction barring parking (new zone 1) from 9:00am to 11:00am?
ReplyDeleteAny word on if Dearborn Park I is gonna play nice and open up their parking to "non-residents"?
ReplyDeleteAs it stands now, they are Zone 40, but you can't park there without getting towed from 9-11 AM M-F, for some reason no one has ever been able to explain. Basically, they don't want non-residents to park there, but are still able to use the rest of Zone 40 any time they want. What gives?
"what gives" is that you arent a resident of DP 1 and cannot park there.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that so hard to get over?
Well, I guess I'm just confused about Dearborn Park I residents' ability to park in my neighborhood, when they aren't residents of my neighborhood. What gives?
ReplyDeleteAlso, looks like Michele agrees. What gives?
ReplyDeleteyour neighborhood isnt dearborn park one....your neighborhood is whatever it is.
ReplyDeleteBut ( say it with me now ) you cannot park in DP1 or DP 2. Get over the complex and move on with your life.
This protects residents of the area. Am I failing to miss why this would be bad?
ReplyDeleteSome residents of Printers Row are just curious why there is a 9-11AM restriction on parking in Dearborn Park 1. This restriction basically prevents anyone from parking there, even though it is included in the Zone 40 parking area.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Dearborn Park just have a separate residential zone if they are a separate "neighborhood"?
What is the purpose of the 9-11AM parking restriction?
BECAUSE THAT IS HIGH TIME FOR PEOPLE TO PARK THERE THAT ARENT RESIDENTS. THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP RESIDENTS GET FIRST CRACK AT THOSE SPOTS....GO PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE
ReplyDeleteBILL
Residents should get first crack at spots. What's wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteOk, so where's the protection for the parking spots for me and my neighbors? I guess I just don't understand what makes Dearborn Park worthy of this exceptional protection. And, having discussed this issue with other people in the neighborhood, I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. Seems like the switch to this new 4-Zone parking map would be an ideal time to get rid of this useless 9-11AM parking restriction.
ReplyDeleteResidents already get the first crack at spots through the existing "residential parking" restrictions (Zone 40). Why the extra protections that no one else in the city enjoys? Is it because the Zone 40 parkers in Dearborn Park are extra special?
ReplyDeletedp 1 was extra protection because , frankly, its probably a better living arrangement thatn yours.
ReplyDeleteOh, so Dearborn Park IS more special than the rest of the South Loop. Well, that explains it. Nothing to see here.
ReplyDeletetruth hurts, sorry bub
ReplyDeleteI'm sick and tired of people being able to Park on Indiana between Roosevelt and 13th. I pay money every month to park and yet there are always cars parked there and the city rarely ever tickets them. We need stronger enforcement on this block.
ReplyDeleteDP1 should just get over themselves, when in reality it's a mediocre and bland neighborhood that just happens to enclose themselves from the rest of the Sloop. Nothing special here.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if when they start enforcing the zone parking the police take a closer at all the handicap hang tags parked in the neighborhood at the meters. The area north of Roosevelt, south of Congress between State and Michigan is covered with cars taking up valuable parking spots all day using a handicap tag.
ReplyDeleteand THIS is EXACTLY WHY people HATE dearborn park residents. its some of the ugliest housing in the city and they INSIST on thinking they are special.
ReplyDeleteif i ever see someone parking in my neighborhood from dearborn park parking on my street and walking to dearborn park i am keying the car.
Dearborn park is full of nothing but a bunch of NIMBY WANNA BE rich suburbanites. the housing there is UGLY. glad we have walls there so i dont have to see the ugly army barracks looking townhouses. ohh rebar fences. HOW UPSCALE.
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE SOOOOO SPECIAL....
Isn't it interesting to see how quickly Dearborn Park residents get their shorts in a bunch when their 9-11AM parking restriction is discussed? Wouldn't it be funny if that restriction was removed? Ha.
ReplyDeleteUmm....anon @ 11:17. Scroll up, I dont see alot of DP1 people getting upset, more like the jealous hordes of people who try to villify them when in fact they are just mad they dont have enough money to live there themselves.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your street parking suckers, leave us be and get back to your job teaching or managing Target.
Boom. Roasted.
This silly bantering back and forth about DP I is not productive to our neighborhood. I am a resident of DP i and I am not a "NIMBY WANNA BE rich suburbanite". I enjoy living in an urban neighborhood and walking to work, shopping, etc., just as many of my south loop neighbors do. Why some of my DP I neighbors feel the need to lower themselves to the name calling level of others does not give me much hope for our neighborhood, city or our species overall. With all the troubles in this world, we can't get along due to some walls, or parking restrictions?? The walls were put up when this part of the city was decaying. Pioneers came here and planted the seed of what is now a fairly vibrant city. Do not hate on DP I. And DP I maybe it is time for us to open our walls and accept that times have changed and maybe even god forbid, welcome our newer neighbors with open arms. Only together can we fight the alderman politics and demand CDOT treat us as a neighborhood and not pass-thru commuter streets.
ReplyDeleteOh wise and entitled residents of Dearborn Park!
ReplyDeleteWho do we peasants think we are questioning what goes on inside their walls?
I believe the original 9-11am parking restriction was put into place so that Dearborn Park residents could not permanently claim a space for their car(s) on the street(there were not any other residents of the South Loop--so you should lose the paranoia about the restriction). Requiring cars to be moved daily allowed residents an equal chance to grab a spot after 11am. It was primarily the mid and high rise residents who had not bought parking spots and which did not have guest parking that utilized street parking. Now townhome residents with second cars might also by vying for the spaces. Do not see the unfairness of it, anybody with a Zone 40 parking sticker has an equal opportunity to grab a spot at 11am. I do not have a Zone 40 sticker...
ReplyDeleteThe 9-11 am restriction was put in place to keep financial district workers and police headquarters employees from claiming free street parking to the exclusion of residents. Shortly after Fioretti's election, the restriction was removed for a couple of months but soon reimposed at the request of residents. Under the new consolidated zone proposal, Printers Row residents would indeed have an equal chance to park in Dearborn Park--but not 24/7. If you choose to live in the South Loop, you'll need to choose an off-street parking option or opt for the CTA and iGo/ZipCar.
ReplyDeleteu want to park there? then save your money and buy a house there. Oh youre poor...hmm, well guess you no parky then
ReplyDeleteAgain, I'm confused why Dearborn Park gets parking protections that no one else in the city enjoys. There's already a residential parking zone there, so that would prevent parking by non-residents ("financial district workers and police headquarters employees"), which I believe is the purpose of residential parking zones.
ReplyDeleteCan someone name another area of the city that provides extra parking protection within an already existing residential parking zone?
Huh, and Dearborn Park residents wonder why other South Loopers consider them outsiders and not part of the neighborhood. Well this thread is all the proof you need.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes we're just jealous!! Right. Because why shouldn't DP1 have special privileges? What a load of crap.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I haven't heard anything in ages about my favorite DP controversy, but this was south of Roosevelt, how everyone was up in arms about the fence around the park at South Loop School. I believe lawsuits were even filed, because some DPers were OUTRAGED that they wouldn't be able to enter the park at every point. This was especially hilarious considering DPers put fences around everyone of their freaking homes.
I really don’t get what the deal is with this feud between some south loop condo residents and some Dearborn Park residents. I lived in a condo in the south loop for five years and have lived in a town home in DP II for a year. In all of that time I’ve never meet a condo owner in real life that has a problem with Dearborn Park or a Dearborn Park resident that has a problem with the other condo owners in the south loop.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the idea that everybody who lives in Dearborn Park is just some wanna be rich suburbanite is crazy. I live in Dearborn Park, because I like being in an urban environment with restaurants, bars and other amenities close by, plus being within walking distance to my job in the loop is a huge plus. The only reason I’m in Dearborn Park is because it is cheaper than being in a condo. Of course it is more expensive than a 1,200 or 1,300 sqft condo, but I want more room than that because I have a family now and to find a 2,000 sqft condo in the south loop with comparable finishes you are looking at at least $750,00 vs the $550,00 my townhome was.
As for the whole parking thing, I don’t really care what happens with it. I sold my car years ago, because I don’t see the need to own a car in this area. I walk, ride my bike or take public transportation or a taxi most places. And when I need a car I just get one of the many zip cars in the area.
Dearborn Park 1 residence,
ReplyDeleteI'd hardly call an average condo sales price of 139K and townhome sales price of 294K in your walled off neighborhood signs of a wealthy or exclusive area. Dearborn Park was built to spur urban renewal in the South Loop not attract wealthy residence. So get over yourself and pick up your prepaid cell phone its reality calling... you're middle class.
Anon @ 12:00
ReplyDeleteLearn how to spell please, maybe that is why you cant make enough money to buy a townhome in DP1, dumby
To all the rest of you mindless imbeciles...its random Anons who post about DP1 being special. its probably trolling and you should ingnor it. Someone is getting a rise out of you----maybe you all should learn how to relax, it is an internet blog afterall.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteWas your horrible spelling and grammar intentional? If so, that was hilarious. Good one.
glad you enjoyed Broomy
ReplyDeleteSo, I saw the zone 1673 coming up in DP1.. What is the deal with that? I still got zone 40 when I purchased the city sticker online.
ReplyDeleteHey fellow sloopers, so I just moved to the area and was issued RPP zone 599 which I believe has now been changed to 1675. I searched for 599 for about 30 mins last night and screamed. I think the city screwed me, because there is no RPP zone 599 anymore. Anyone know whats up, I am PISSED, cuz I guaruntee they are going to charge me again......
ReplyDeleteMe too! I'm 99% sure I purchased Zone 1675 as a buffer zone when I renewed my city sticker, but was shipped stickers for zone 599???
ReplyDeleteI just got ticketed last night for parking in my normal area (what used to be 394). I hadn't even noticed but the city sent me new passes (two cars and 15 guest passes worth) in the old 394 Zone that is now part of the greater 1675. I called the city and Fioretti's office this morning.
ReplyDeleteThe city said to just bring your stickers, guest passes, and receipts to the clerk and they will re-print them for no charge.
Fioretti's office said that they have been getting a TON of these calls and complaints since enforcement went into effect. Alex, very helpful staffer, told me to bring my ticket in to their office on State St. They are going to copy it and send it in with all the others to be dismissed.
Hope this all works and everyone else has good luck.
Ok, so my wife and i just moved into the high rise at 5e 14th pl, across from the (apparently) accursed Dearbourn park. What zone am I eligible for (if any), where can I park?
ReplyDeleteGot home from vacation this weekend to find 4 tickets for Wrong Zone on our car. We were sent the original 365 zone stickers, which of course is now zone 1674.
ReplyDeleteCalled Fioretti's office asking for help contesting the tickets, and were told they stopped doing that on July 16th, and we will need to contest on our own.
Thanks for nothing.
Got home from vacation this weekend to find 4 tickets for Wrong Zone on our car. We were sent the original 365 zone stickers, which of course is now zone 1674.
ReplyDeleteCalled Fioretti's office asking for help contesting the tickets, and were told they stopped doing that on July 16th, and we will need to contest on our own.
Thanks for nothing.