Who can I talk to? Advice needed?

[vinyl-raven.livejournal.com]

I am running a event on Halloween in Union Sq. there is limited parking. I plan on asking Market Basket & Somerville PD for the go ahead to use MB's parking lot.

So, Is the Somerville PD, the people I ask? or Do I go to the Somerville Parking Authority?

I don't know in this case if its in thier (Som PD's) hands or just in MB's and thier tow companies hands.

I am willing to try all my options

Thanks in advance

Comments

[i-custard.livejournal.com]

I don't have real advice, as I don't know who you would ask, but I wanted to ask you if the event starts before 9? Because if so I'm pretty sure Market Basket would be a no-go. It is always crowded until closing.

But it is worth a shot, I just don't know who you'd ask.

[vinyl-raven.livejournal.com]

It would be after 9

[etana.livejournal.com]

It's purely MB's decision, and I wager you'll get a 'no.' If it weren't private property you would have to apply for parking permits, etc. but it's private so the city of Somerville has nottathing to do with it.
Good luck!

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

And I'm guessing one main reason MB would be likely to say no would be due to liability and insurance issues.

[ron_newman]

Unless your event takes place only when the store is closed, I doubt they would give you approval. That lot is crowded (as is the store).

[marylu.livejournal.com]

you could try asking mb, but I don't think they'd say yes and i don't think the police would be helpful. there's also a lot behind the independent; not sure who it belongs to, tho.

[daft.livejournal.com]

I believe the lot across Prospect from the Dunkin Donuts is a public lot.

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

Somerville Parking is the place to go. They are on the corner of Holland and Paulina. They can issue tags for cars to park in resident places and the police honor them. They also issue the "no parking...moving" signs to reserve space for vans and such. I do know that Somerville pretty much only talks to residents so if you have someone working for you that lives there have them go.

Union Sq is currently under major, major construction. If I had to guess Somerville parking wouldn't want to touch it with a 10 foot parking meter.

I usually see a lot of street spaces b/w Choices and the actual Square. Also if you loop around just before entering the actual square onto Summer street there are spaces usually by the Neighborood. When the road Ys take the left branch for more meter spots really close to the club.

[jaschonh.livejournal.com]

I thought for large parties all you need to do is tell the Somerville Parking office. They note the address and number of cars expected. If anyone gets a ticket they just give it to you. You take the tickets into the Parking Office. They know you called ahead so they dismiss the tickets.

At least this is what I have done in the past.

[cutieperson]

they changed policy slightly so now they hand out hang tags for the number of people you ask for, to an extent. the tags are only good for your street and maybe intersecting streets, so they'll only hand out what those streets can bear.

[i-custard.livejournal.com]

Also, arent's there major events in Union all the time? I'm not sure if they ever go anywhere to get extra parking and it never seems to be a problem if people are willing to walk a little bit. If it is at night the meters are free (after 6,or 8 I'm not sure which).

I've never worked on one of those events, but I've been to alot of them and parking never seemed to be a huge issue.

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

I know that when ArtsUnion markets take place, the Somerville Arts Council gets the city to block off some of the meters in the lot front of The Independent for vendors to park at. And also vendors are allowed to park behind The Independent which I believe is because The Independent gives permission for this.

[vinyl-raven.livejournal.com]

Thanks!!