Jamaica Plain considering ban on using parking space savers during snowstorms

BOSTON — Jamaica Plain may become the next neighborhood to ban the practice of using parking space savers during snowstorms.

A meeting was held to discuss the winter tradition at Curtis Hall on South Street on Tuesday night. No decision was made during that meeting.

Currently, drivers can reserve parking spots in Boston for up to 48 hours after the city declares a snow emergency.

>> Latest forecast: Wintry Mix This Morning

People use all kinds of things for space savers: chairs, laundry baskets, and some even go as far to add elaborate displays or notes.

Some of those notes aren't the kindest, and there have been cases where tempers have gotten out of hand, and arguments have become physical.

The South End is the only neighborhood that has banned the practice.

But drivers are torn over whether the ban should extend into Jamaica Plain.

"It's only right you put in that work shoveling that space, then it’s only right to save that space," said Malik Mathurin.

Tamara Palaganis said, "I get why people do it because it is hard to shovel out a spot, but at the same time, not everyone can do it and you do it and then if there’s a senior citizen or someone with an injury and they can’t do it and they take your spot, be kind about it.”

Omer Hecht asked the public service committee of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council to consider the issue out of a concern about vandalism and violence connected to space savers.

"I’m afraid for my safety if I move a space saver," Hecht said.

There were also concerns about the lack of parking and whether public spots should be reserved.

“When someone puts a space saver out and they leave for the day, that space is empty for the entire day but because of the risk that someone might vandalize or get into a physical altercation, that space is like holy ground and it’s sacred and no one will ever park there," Hecht said.

Other residents say the system has worked for them for decades.

"At this point in my life, it’s hard to dig out for hours and then not have that spot, someone else took it, so it works in the short term, at least for me and my neighborhood," said Libby Sanderson of Jamaica Plain.

But even supporters of space savers say they'd love a win-win situation.

"If the city could get itself together to remove the big mounds of snow, then it wouldn’t be an issue," said Sarah Buermann of Jamaica Plain.

Cox Media Group