Street Parking Changes

In preparation for the annual onslaught of Halloween tourism, Saturday morning the Salem DPW painted several new designated areas on both Holyoke and Norman streets that may greatly impact parking availability both during the month of October, and going forward into winter.
Although the only officially-designated place residents of 24 Norman Street are allowed to park is Riley Plaza, (with our hang tags) many tenants frequently park in the unmetered spaces along Norman Street, directly in front of our building or the shopping plaza next door, or on nearby Holyoke Street.  We recently lost a potential space to a badly-placed handicapped parking space in front of the building. Saturday we lost another one, the space directly in front of that space by the ramp, or "driveway" on the market side of the building. (see photo below)

We are also potentially losing all of our parking on the Verizon building side of Holyoke Street. The Salem DPW painted in two large spaces for tour buses to park on Holyoke.

Although tour buses and Verizon trucks have parked there in the past, this may indicate that a new, officially-posted "Tour Buses Only" area may be enforced with ticketing, or towing. Weather this will be only during the month of October, or permanently, remains to be seen.
There was no notification from the city to Markwood Management that any of these changes were taking place.
With the new Merchant hotel leasing parking space in Riley Plaza, two new hotels scheduled to open within the year (one on Essex Street, one on Washington Street) and the city seemingly favoring merchants and tourists over residents, parking scarcity is once again becoming critical issue. 

For now, just be aware of these changes and be careful to look for any new signs or posted regulations. We will post any new information we receive here on the blog.

STREET SWEEPING BEGINS APRIL 29TH

STREET SWEEPING BEGINS ON SALEM'S ENTRANCE CORRIDORS ON  APRIL 29TH
Residential Streets To Be Swept May 13-24

It's that time of year again...

        Mayor Kimberley Driscoll today announced that the City of Salem’s Street Sweeping Program will begin on Monday, April 29th on Salem's entrance corridors. Then, beginning on May 13th, sweepers will start cleaning residential streets in neighborhoods.

"After a winter of record breaking snow amounts, street sweepers are a welcome sight. We are committed to cleaning this city street by street starting on April 29th,” stated Mayor Driscoll.

The first Entrance Corridor sweep will begin on Monday, April 29th and continue through May 10th. Residents should consult the 'No Parking/Tow Zone' signs posted along each of these entrance corridors that notify drivers of what day parking restrictions are in effect. As in the past, entrance corridor sweeping schedules alternate between the odd and even sides of the street so residents are able to alternate parking their cars on the opposite side of the street during scheduled sweeping days. Parking is prohibited from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on scheduled sweep days.  This year the City will be sweeping Entrance Corridors three times throughout the spring, summer and fall (see schedule on salem.com for more details). 

Beginning Monday, May 13th and running through May 24th residential neighborhood street sweeping will take place on  both sides of the street on the same day. Each neighborhood route will be posted with temporary ‘No Parking/Tow Zone’ signs and parking will be prohibited between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

John Tomasz, Director of Public Services, stated, "In order for the sweepers to do their job, I would like to ask all residents to pay attention to the no parking signs posted for street sweeping and to remove your cars from the street on your designated sweeping day," John Tomasz, Director of Public Services, stated. "Our goal is to clean the streets, not to tow cars, so please park accordingly during scheduled street sweeping days."

City streets will be broken down into two zones. Streets in Zone One will be swept during the week of May 13 – 17 and streets in Zone Two will be swept during the week of May 20 – 24 (see schedule on salem.com for more details).  Residents will be able to use entrance corridor streets (Boston St., Bridge St., Essex St. [from Boston St. to Washington St.], Lafayette St. [from Dow St. to Marblehead line], Loring Ave., and North St.) as alternative parking areas on the day of their neighborhood sweep. Once a street is swept, residents will be able to move their vehicles back onto their street. 

Sweep days are the next day after the regularly scheduled trash day.  To find a specific street sweeping date, locate what zone the street is in on the 2013 Residential Street Sweeping Schedule, and match it with the calendar.  Monday sweep schedules are for the preceding Friday's trash day.  For example, if you live on Atlantic Street, which has a Friday trash pickup, are located in Zone One both sides of the street will be swept on Monday, May 13. For a detailed schedule, log onto the Department of Public Works page on the “Departments” site at www.salem.com, pick one up at City Hall or the Salem Public Library, or call the DPS office at 978-744-3302. 

To help get the word out, the City will use its CodeRed automated calling system. Also the street sweeping schedule will be posted on the News & Announcements page and Department of Public Works page on the City's website (www.salem.com).  Hard copies will be available at the DPW garage, Salem City Hall, and the Salem Public Library. To have a schedule sent by mail call the Public Services Department at 978-744-3302. Illuminated message boards will be placed throughout the city announcing street sweeping and temporary tow zone signs will be placed throughout designated sweeping areas.

        Certain weather conditions prohibit the use of the street sweepers: during moderate to heavy rainfall and extreme cold temperatures sweepers will not be able to operate. Weather cancellations will be posted on www.salem.com.

One of the many ways the City will notify residents regarding street sweeping is through the CodeRED automated calling system, so this is a perfect time to register. Residents and businesses can add their telephone numbers, cellular phone numbers, and/or email addresses to the new CodeRED system. To register, residents and businesses can log onto the city's website www.salem.com and click on the  CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment' icon.

 It only takes a minute and will ensure notification of emergency and non-emergency messages from the City of Salem. 

Another method of communication used for street sweeping information is the City's email updates. Individuals can sign-up to receive a variety of notices by clicking the green ‘E-Mail Subscriber’  button on the left side of www.salem.com  and checking the News & Announcements category.

Residents are urged to register for both the CodeRED and www.salem.com E-Mail Subscriber systems, as the City uses each system independently.

Halloween Street Closings Will Affect Norman Street

Road Closures and No Parking Posted Tow Zones
Friday, October 28, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011

Road Closures

The only planned road closings for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are Washington Street, between Church Street and Bridge Street, and Federal Street, from Washington Street to North Street, during the times the Radio 92.9 entertainment stage is operational (Friday at 6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday @ 4:00pm).

However, crowd size and public safety will dictate the need for closing any streets in the downtown area during the weekend.

Posted No Parking Tow Zones

Washington Street from Lynde Street to Bridge Street.  This section of the street which is across from District Court will be a Posted No Parking Tow Zone area on Thursday, October 27 beginning at 3:00pm.
Federal Street - both sides from Washington Street to Superior Court.
Norman Street - both sides from Washington Street to Holyoke Square.
Saturday, October 29 – Devil's Chase Road Race

On Saturday morning beginning at 8:00am this road race will start at Salem Willows and proceed through Memorial Drive, the Common, Derby Street, Fort Avenue, Winter Island and the Willows neighborhood.  During the race there will be some traffic diversion along the route.  For a course map, log onto bnsfitness.com

Road Closures and Posted No Parking Tow Zones
Monday, October 31, 2011
Road Closures
The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 5:00pm on October 31st:
Washington Street closed from New Derby to Bridge Street.
Essex Street from Barton Square to Union Street
Derby Street from Lafayette Street to Congress Street
Brown Street closed at New Liberty Street.   Second backup closure at Howard Street
Lafayette Street closed from Derby to Front Street
Hawthorne Blvd closed from Derby Street to Essex Street
Washington Sq. West closed from Essex to Brown Street
Washington Sq. South closed
Washington Sq. North closed from Brown to Winter St
Winter Street at Bridge Street closed to inbound traffic
Williams Street at Bridge Street
Congress Street closed at South Harbor Garage, traffic detoured to Wharf Street out to Derby Street. Derby Street inbound traffic detoured to Little Hawthorne Blvd., right on Essex Street (Traffic direction reversed Little Hawthorne Blvd.)
Lafayette St and New Derby Street remain open to traffic to and from Riley Plaza.

No Parking Posted Tow Zones beginning at Noon
        Franklin Street – both sides from North Street to Orchard Street

No Parking Posted Tow Zones beginning at 5:00pm
Lafayette Street both sides Front to Derby Street.
Public parking lot along Front Street. Public parking spaces located on Central Street in front of old police station.
Essex Street from Barton Sq. to Hawthorne Blvd.
Derby Street both sides between Congress and Lafayette Street
Hawthorne Blvd. both sides.
Front Street. Central Street.
Washington Street from New Derby to Bridge Street both sides.
Washington Sq. North, South, and West both sides.
Federal Street both sides from Washington to Superior Ct.
Norman Street from Washington to Crombie Street.
Fireworks traffic control plan 10:00pm – October 31st
Bridge Street closes to traffic between the westerly ramps and the Bypass Road.
Incoming Bridge St northbound traffic detoured up westerly ramps to east west North Street directions. The Bypass Road inbound traffic from Beverly is diverted back to Bridge St and back to Beverly. Incoming south bound traffic from Bridge Street is diverted to the Bypass Road and back to Beverly.
Beverly sign board before Bridge warns drivers that Salem is absolutely closed to thru traffic from 10pm until 1130 pm. Route 1A, Rt 114, and Route 107 no access from Beverly. Vehicles directed to Kernwood Bridge.

Franklin Street closed.

Parking in October

As we get closer to Halloween weekend and the number of tourists increase, parking in the neighborhood will become more difficult to find. Markwood Management would like to remind tenants and owners not to use the side drop off area for long-term parking. This is especially problematic during this month.

Be forewarned, Markwood may need to be very stringent in the application of the 20-30 minute parking rule. We will be especially on the lookout for vehicles that may not belong to building tenants (i.e., out-of-state plates) as many tourists feel parking in that space may be worth the risk. Don't take the risk of being towed.