Hey guys. As always, with anything that I do, Motown guys are always welcome. Here is the large issue at hand with the lot.... This year, compared to most, everyone seems to be going out to WW earlier and earlier. I have seen guys on the camera showing up in the lot as early as 6. With my work schedule , I am in the office everyday in Farmington from 8 am to 7/8 at night. There is no way for me to get out to WW any sooner than 830 or there about on Fridays. The issue is, we only have 13 assigned spots, and when that fills up, the overflow goes out to the street which has about 3 spots that cars are allowed to park in. The main issue is, people (that I don't even know) are seeing the crowds of people and are stopping to hang out and are parking on the street where it says "NO PARKING" along with that, they are parking on the neighbors grass. Every night I'm out there, I have to deal with the cops, I have got to know most of them and they are really cool, but they do have a job to do, and if people keep blocking the road way and parking on the grass on personal property, its going to get very ugly with the Police, as they are getting complaint after complaint.
From day 1, I have asked the guys that I know, to please not park in the front 2 spots, as I park there when I show up. The reason for this is......When the cops drive by and see my car from the road, they know I am there and have it pretty much under control, when they don't see my car, they will always drive down the street and pull in to the lot. The last 2 weekends, I get there and the 2 front spots are taken. I have again had to tell the guys to keep the spots clear. So don't feel bad, I hardly can get a spot at my building. LOL.
The main issue at hand is, I am not there to kick people out of the lot at 6/7 when people start to show up, and then more people flow in as they see those guys there. With only having 13 or so actual parking spots, we don't have a lot of room. We only have so much to work with. My plan right now is, I am having made, 2 signs for the lot that say "PRIVATE PROPERTY, PARKING FOR CUST ONLY" I will be talking with the local Police that I know as well, to let them know, I am adding these signs to help control the lot. In order to make sure the group of guys I allow to park there, wont get hassled if I am not there, I will be asking everyone that wants to park there from time to time, to meet up with me soon, so I can give them my business card, and I will sign the back of it, and write on the card "ok to park, per Steve Frankiewicz" this will insure no tickets are issued and the guys with out a card, have to move out of the lot. This will help me greatly and allow for the Motown guys and a few select friends have a place to park when they come out.
The issue that there will never be an resolution to, will be this.........If the lot is full with other car/people that have the OK to park there, there is nothing I can do about that. The lot is first come first serve to MM and friends. If I only pass on 13/14 cards, that is going to piss a lot of people off, as there are far more than 13/14 people that I have that I am willing to help out.
To sum things up. I will get the signs out there as soon as possible, and I will get everyone (up to a certain, safe number) that wants a business card, a business card. We all have to just remember to be respectful. if you get there at 930 and cant find a spot, you cant get mad that someone else with the ok to park there got out sooner, and was able to get a spot. The spots are simply FIRST COME ...FIRST SERVE. If there is a spot in the street that, go for it, if not, you may have to come back later as someone leaves. I am going to try everything I can to work this out, but we CAN NOT have guys parking in the sub behind the office, in front of peoples house. In this sub in Birmingham , there is not a curb separating the grass from the street, therefore, the grass that meets with the street is owned by the property owner, and parking on someone's lawn in the city of Birmingham, is going to, and already has caused issues.
I wish I had a lot big enough for 100 cars, but I can only deal with what I have for now.
Thanks guys.
