As you’re probably well aware, many Queen Village residents have the pleasure of basically living next door to I-95. As such, Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) was granted the right to create a community parking lot several years ago under the highway at Front and Christian Streets, according to Jeff Hornstein, QVNA president. QVNA leases the land at low cost from the Interstate Land Management Corporation (ILMC), the quasi-government agency that oversees the 100-foot right-of-way on either side and underneath I-95. QVNA charges 95 people $95 a month to park there. In turn, they use the revenue generated to run their organization and to provide grants for the community through a competitive grant process. Last year, the Nebinger and Meredith Schools both received grants.

Queen Village parking lot

Now, new plans are in the works for QVNA to rent a second lot, located between Carpenter Street and Washington Avenue, from ILMC through another low-cost lease, and to begin operating the lot as early as April 1st. Included in this plan are beautification efforts for this stretch of Front Street, which currently has exquisite highway views. “The sperm and the egg have barely even met,” said Hornstein about the status of the beautification process at Front Street. But it’s definitely on the agenda and plans are for it to happen, possibly by the end of the year.

Another parking lot, begging for the cars of Queen Village

That will mean some sort of natural landscaped barrier between the lots and the homes. Right now, the lot is a large asphalt field. A design process will come on the heels of the opening of the lot, and a Friends of Front Street, or something like it, will be created to oversee the process.

“The folks who live along Front Street deserve better than what they have now,” said Hornstein.

A little neighborhood park, a few blocks to the north. Prettier thank a parking lot, if you ask us.

Kudos to QVNA for continuing to improve their neighborhood in clever ways, and for coming up with creative solutions to the parking problems that plague their neighborhood.

–Lou Mancinelli