As some of you know, as we were finishing up our time in South Bend, we sold one of our cars. We were very lucky--we sold it for a good price, just before the credit market and the stock market collapsed. And we were able to use that money for a trip to Europe, which was amazing.
Now, in addition to being thankful that we were able to sell the car for a good price when we did, we are also very thankful that we do not have a second car in DC. Not only is a second car completely unnecessary in the city (particularly when one member of the family absolutely refuses to drive in this mess)--it is also exceedingly inconvenient.
I must go on record saying: Parking in this city is ridiculous. First, there isn't any. Second, if you are lucky enough to find a spot on the street within a mile of your apartment into which you can squeeze your car, you must have DC tags in order to park there for more than two hours. So if you don't yet have DC tags, like us, you must move your car to another block every two hours, all day, between the hours of 7:30am and 8:30pm. Third, in order to obtain DC tags, you must a) have your car inspected, b) obtain DC insurance, c) pay a hefty fee, and d) get a DC driver's license--which involves taking both a written and a driving skills exam (and, in my case, learning how to parallel park). All of which is a major hassle in the city, particularly when you have to move your car every two hours in the process.
Our solution: rent an off-street parking space.
Easier said than done, apparently. The 10 or so spots behind our building are already rented, and the parking garages in the area are either absurdly expensive or out of spaces. So we went on craigslist, a very convenient internet market for city dwellers. There we found parking spaces for sale--for a mere $40,000. Yes, that's right, people here actually take out a mortgage to purchase a parking space. We're not taking about a garage, or a covered parking space--we're talking about $40K for a little five-foot by 7 foot sliver of asphalt in an alleyway.
Fortunately, with the help of http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/prk/, we found someone living in a rowhouse about half a mile from our apartment who was renting the space behind his home. For a mere $200. Per month. And that was cheap for the area. So yes, for the near future, we are paying $200/month to park half a mile from home. To a nice midwestern girl like me, this is just unfathomable. But, such is the city.
For all of you at home, take a moment to enjoy your free, bountiful parking and think of us! =)
2 comments:
Ha! Love your description! So glad to be out of that mess now. Although I do hate the feeling of over-paved, suburban big box store parking lots, especially since now I have to put Jack in and out of his carseat to drive from Target to the Petsmart across the parking lot. Although I'd love to walk, walking with your godson through a half mile of parking lot seems a little dangerous, and he rarely allows me to carry him for that long anymore, even if I could heft his 25 pounds all the way. I never understood the joy of drive-thru everything until I became a suburban American mom.
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