The local 52nd Precinct and city Transportation Department both say they’re not responsible for vehicles inexplicably parking at a triangle just across from Tracey Towers.

It’s a trend that confounded Sallie Caldwell, who’s lived at the enormous towers for nearly 50 years. It’s also a new trend as far as she’s concerned.
The spot—found at a busy intersection of West Mosholu Parkway South edging Jerome Avenue–sits dozens of feet across the Norwood towers, where Caldwell’s a resident. An ever-vigilant resident, Caldwell has noticed vehicles have brazenly parked there overnight, narrowing the space for other vehicles looking to turn either into the towers’ parking facility or a quick left back to Jerome Avenue.

In some cases, Caldwell has noticed some close calls.

“Just last week I saw a car almost get hit because there were cars on both sides. He made that swing and he had to stop real quick because if you got someone parked here and someone parked here (at the facing island), it’s very hard for you to come in there when you know that’s supposed to be clear,” said Caldwell, speaking to the Norwood News from the Twin Donut on Jerome Avenue.

Other residents at the massive Mitchell-Lama towers have noticed it too. Caldwell’s longtime neighbor, Steven Spencer, has seen cars parked at the lone spot. “[C]ars have never parked there before,” said Spencer. “Either they have to get out of the way, or get hit by the car that’s turning.”

For Caldwell, the parking poses a safety issue. It also points to the larger problem of street parking, a premium in Norwood. With no signs indicating whether vehicles can’t park there, drivers have seized on oversight.

Still, Caldwell has made her concerns known. She first started with the 52nd Precinct. But their hands are tied. Without a sign barring drivers from parking near the triangle, drivers are technically not doing anything wrong, exploiting a loophole.                                                                     ”

She then took it to Community Board 7 in hopes the civic body would handle it. Usually, the city Department of Transportation, charged with maintaining the streets, would dispatch a team. Caldwell hasn’t heard back over whether that’s happened. She expected a courtesy call, but hasn’t gotten any.

“Normally, that’s the procedure,” said Caldwell of a courtesy call. “Reason why I know because I was on the Community Board and I know once you report it to [DOT] they do send a group out to check what the resident is talking about and they do report back to the Community Board that they’ve been there.”

But a spokesperson for the DOT passed the buck to the New York Police Department, saying it’s the agency’s responsibility to enforce parking at the spot. The statement puts the responsibility at the Police Department, but offers a slight admission that the spot is indeed illegal.