Neighbourhood permit-only parking frustrates Northwood employees
The Halifax Regional Municipality's recent move to allow only permit parking on some Halifax streets surrounding Northwood seniors home could end up costing workers like Stacey MacLean and her husband an extra $60 a month.
MacLean, a mother of three, has two children in hockey and said she lives paycheque to paycheque so every penny counts.
"So an extra basically $60 a month coming out of our paycheque is a lot of money to us," she said.
Fighting to park
MacLean works 12-hour day shifts as a personal care worker at Northwood. Her husband works there as a housekeeper, but on a different shift. That means they take two cars to work.
"It makes it more difficult for Northwood employees to park because not only are we fighting to park with each other, but we're also fighting to park with Stadacona [in CFB Halifax] across the street," MacLean said.
"We can pay anywhere between $30 to $100 a month for parking or risk getting parking tickets. Or buses, which aren't always running on time."
Permit parking only
On Aug. 5, the HRM made the changes to about 24 spots affecting two blocks on Northwood Terrace and surrounding streets. What was once all-day free parking is now permit only.
Residents can apply a permit for $30 a year and non-residents can buy one for $30 a month, on a first come, first served basis.
"There's no priority given to either a resident or non-resident to use that street," HRM spokesman Brendan Elliott said.
Overwhelming neighbourhood support
Over the last two years, Elliott said, area residents — some who do not have driveways — complained to the HRM they had nowhere to park.
So, the HRM sent ballots out to see if 50 per cent of residents would agree to permit parking on the street.
The vote for this was overwhelming, Elliott said.
198 spots, 700 employees
Lara Scheibling lives in a large older home near Northwood. She and her upstairs neighbour share one small driveway. Scheibling recently purchased a permit and supports the change to permit parking..
"I now have space to park my car on the street when I need to," she said. "And getting a permit was really easy ... I also find it's a lot safer when I'm backing my car out of the driveway."
Northwood has 198 parking spaces, including 40 spots at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. on Agricola Street.
"We kind of monitor the situation and if we know of any parking available to staff, we certainly let them know," Northwood spokesman John Verlinden said.
Some 700 employees work three different shifts at the facility. Close to 30 are on a wait list for parking.
