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The Powelton Village Civic Association will vote May 19 on whether or not the blocks (highlighted above) will have extended permit parking hours from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. The PVCA is working with Drexel and the Philadelphia Parking Authority to propose the change in permit parking hours.

PVCA proposes new parking rules

By: Stephanie Takach

Posted: 5/16/08

The Powelton Village Civic Association will vote May 19 to extend the Powelton residential permit parking hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through 8 a.m. tthrough 8 p.m.

"Complaints about difficulties finding parking caused us to revisit the current situation with permit parking," Tony Dominick, president of the PVCA, said.

After the PVCA met with the Drexel Administration and representatives from the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the PPA suggested extending permit parking hours on blocks that already have permit parking, according to Dominick.

The Undergraduate Student Government Association has already received complaints from former and current students, according to Stacey Rose, Student Life chair for the USGA.

"We understand why the PVCA wants to change parking hours, but we don't agree with it. … It kind of indirectly prevents students from parking around where they live," Rose said.

William Mulgrew, a senior majoring in history and politics, wrote in an e-mail, "I have lived in this community for nearly five years, and I cannot think of a more anti-student message the PVCA could send than this. We live here, too. We pay taxes here, too. Instead of trying to find positive solutions to issues of parking, the PVCA is a complete cop-out."

While the PVCA does recognize that students use the Powelton area to park their cars, Dominick said the primary concern was for the Powelton residents.

"Many pressures contribute to the parking situation in the neighborhood - residents looking for a parking space, students that require a car to get to their co-op job, short term parking for business customers, commuter students looking for parking, parking for guests of residents that come to visit, construction projects and more," a said. "We are trying to improve the parking situation for all residents that pay the costs involved to park in the neighborhood."

While the PVCA recognized that students may be affected, Niki Gianakaris, a spokeswoman for Drexel University, said the change in parking will not affect student parking.

"Assuming that the community is successful in its efforts to standardize parking, which requires that a majority of the community residents approve the proposal on a block-by-block basis, it is our understanding that there will be no impact on student parking," Gianakaris said.

Dominick also said he foresees that some students will not be willing to pay the additional costs that other residents pay for a permit parking sticker and will have more difficulty finding parking on blocks with permit parking only.

However, Drexel is looking at focusing student parking in the allocated garages and is creating a new parking garage in order to supply more parking for students, according to Gianakaris.

"The University's strategic and master plans include a proposal to construct a multi-story parking facility next to the Frederic O. Hess Engineering Laboratories on Lancaster Avenue," Gianakaris said.

Another issue concerning the change in permit parking hours, according to Rose, is the safety of students and their cars.

"Student will start migrating and moving their cars further off of campus," Rose said. "They can become potential victims and we don't want that to happen."

Rose added that Drexel students bring livelihood to Powelton Village, and although students may sometimes be a nuisance, they should not be kept out of the issue completely. She said it is more up to the students' landlords and depends whether or not the landlords will stand up for the students.

Gianakaris said there are still parking permits available through University's Parking Services, as the department currently does not have a lottery system.

According to Dominick, parking is always going to be a changing problem in any urban neighborhood and will need to be revisited from time to time.

Gianakaris said Drexel will continue its evaluations through collaborations with the PVCA, the Philadelphia Department of Streets and the PPA.