Monthly Parking?
Hey Forumers! My wife and I are considering a car — but wanted some input on parking: both street and monthly. We live on 15th street near the park. While there is street parking, it never seems abundant. So we’d like to consider a monthly parking arrangment — but it could be a little further…
Hey Forumers! My wife and I are considering a car — but wanted some input on parking: both street and monthly. We live on 15th street near the park. While there is street parking, it never seems abundant. So we’d like to consider a monthly parking arrangment — but it could be a little further out into Brooklyn, if that makes it cheaper (we’re on the F). Thoughts? Advice? Horror stories? Looking forward to hearing them all!
getting a car in brooklyn was the best decision i’ve ever made. there are so many great things to see in long island, NJ, PA, hudson valley, westchester, new england, that you just can’t get to without a car, not to mention how easy it is to get to ikea and fairway, or visit friends who live in the middle of nowhere (as far as public transit is concerned).
i have a used car that i got for $1000, it’s a piece of shit, but it moves (1993 dodge shadow, insurance is $90 a month). we park it on the street. have to move it once during the week, and once on weekends. not sure how cobble hill (where i live) compares with south slope for parking, though. you just have to move it at a good time – not 10pm the night before a street cleaning day. we’ve had it for a year and only got 2 tickets so far, both for street cleaning. they’re only $45 tickets.
Keeping a car in NY is a losing battle. ZipCar is a nice alternative.
Get zipcar. I’ve used it for the past 3 years and unless you’re using the car alot it’s the cheaper way to go. After insurance/parking/sunk costs do the math. And they are everywhere. Only once I couldn’t find one on short notice, summer saturday.
The further down the hill you go the easier parking gets.
Close to the park are a lot of 4 or 5 floor apt buildings with many tenants.
If you cross 7th ave the dwellings become more single family houses (ie less car owners per block). I used to live in the later and never had a problem finding spots.
One thing to think about though is street cleaning. Someone in our household was always around to move it during the day.
Having owned a car, and then a company-paid car, for 8 years, my recommendation is don’t get a car unless you have your own driveway/garage and you print your own money.
Downsides of street parking: the car will get dinged and danged, and broken into for no reason; you will get sick and/or forget to move your car on cleaning days; you will worry about your car when you go on vacation, or if you travel for work; budget for 5 to 8 parking tickets a year.
Downsides of parking garage: weird attendants (I mean weird enough to leave skin magazines about big-bottomed women or empty chips containers under the driver’s seat); have to call 30 minutes or an hour before you need the car, then car is invariably not ready when you show up, especially if you are in a hurry; surly attendants, no matter how much you tip; your car will get dinged and danged, and parking attendants will pretend not to speak English when you complain.
Aside from parking issues, maintenance, insurance and gas are sky-high in NYC. Do a budget for a year, including some minor repairs, a couple new tires, regular maintenance, insurance, parking tickets or monthly parking, initial cost of car divided by 5. Takes that total, divide by the number of time you have used the car. I guarantee you Zipcar is cheaper.
I’d suggest doing the math first. Add up the cost of a car, the insurance, the inevitable tickets and the parking and divide that by $20 and you’ll use car service like I do.
We’re likely moving to this neighborhood and I am lamenting the lack of parking-our co-op has a parking lot and it’s $100 per month. Friends of our live in this neighborhood and a private spot runs around $300.
RE: the Craig’s List spot in Windsor Terrace: 20 minutes on the F to midtown? Replace midtown w/ downtown. Downtown Brooklyn.
Why don’t you just try for a parking spot at the garage on 15th between 8th and 7th across from the Armory? There’s also one on 12th between 7th and 8th. I’m not sure of the cost but I bet its a Lot!
use Zipcars – lots of locations near you and you don’t need to bother with alternate side / garage fees. then get a bicycle and you’ll find you probably don’t need to drive that much anyway