It's not just unfair; it's unsafe.  I drive in that area to get to Mt. Royal Fine Foods, and on Sunday it's just insane with parked cars blocking the view of intersections, and people crossing the street between parked cars. It shouldn't be allowed if they are violating posted parking regulations.  I wouldn't think ticketing all the church goers would be a good idea, but maybe someone in authority should have a visit with the parish priest and ask him to communicate with his parishioners.

@B-Man. Cute.  I lived in that neighborhood for 16 years and when the catholic diocese put their office building in I was furious as, of course, that neighborhood is not commercially zoned.  But it was pointed out to me that the church and school pay so much in taxes that they could do pretty much what they wanted.

Duluth police don't enforce parking regulations during religious services.   They might come tag a car that's blocking a driveway, but only if you insist you need to get out.  Won't tow it, though.

Falls under "not worth the hassle."

It's one morning a week.  Deal with it.  I've never seen so many fucking babies crying about something so trivial in my life.

Catholics and Presbyterians breaking the law!  "Do unto Caesar," unless it requires walking an additional 50 feet!

But at least the Lutherans have plenty of legal parking lot space.  ;)

@Karasu: I understand that they have permission, I still just don't like the the solution that was implemented. If they need the street side parking, then the road should be slightly modified. They have plenty of yard. The side walk should be moved back and diagonal parking be installed, much like the back parking road of St Paul's Episcopal Church in my neighborhood. Either that, or cones should be out along with a merge left sign. The speed limit should also be lowered during church time, much like a school zone. Perhaps a "SPEED LIMIT 25 WHEN FLASHING" sign. 

It's been going on for years, I don't think a permanent solution is out of the question.

"... pointed out to me that the church and school pay so much in taxes."
 
They enjoy the exempt status, correct???

The parking issue is something that we deal with - be thankful that there is a church there and not several apartment building owned by absent landlords.

I know there are signs around town that state "no parking - except during church services" though I am not sure if those signs are around Holy Rosary.

But you have to understand that the people who are too lazy to walk across the street and park in the lot are the same people who park in the fire lane at Target, or park taking up two parking spots, or drive in the left lane and think they are somehow special and allowed to do these things.

Interesting that someone has brought this up.
There are two Sunday morning church services on Park Point that regularly block up both sides of Minnesota Avenue's parking lanes.  As you know, on Park Point, all legal parking is on the bay side in the summer for the biking/walking/skating lane on the lake side.  But not on Sunday Mornings! I have never seen a single ticket or citation issued, but I have seen some rather dangerous things happen due to the congestion.

I received your email last week about your concerns on church parking.  You wrote the email to Officer Russ Bradley, the neighborhood officer who works with concerned citizens on issues like this.  The Mayor, myself and others were copied in the email.  I can't speak for the others, but I assume Russ has or will contact you (we receive a lot of emails like yours on issues all over the board).  If Russ has not replied to you yet he will be soon and he will work with you on your concern.  I imagine Russ has or will be meeting with the church officials to try for voluntary compliance. 

Letters of concern sent to the church would help as well.  Have you ever expressed your concerns to church officials?  Often times concerns like this don't need to involve the police, but rather worked out between a church and neighbor.  In cases I've been involved with like this the entity often has no idea the frustration it is causing-and sometimes say it is just the police complaining.

We do our best to be responsive and focus on community concerns and this is one that had not been on our radar.    

If you are not satisfied with the matter as we work with you on addressing it call or email me any time.

Respectfully,

Gordon Ramsay
Chief DPD
[email protected]

It's not just Sundays. Every time there's a wedding at Holy Rosary, people park illegally all over the place, blocking Wallace and Vermillion. I bike by there to get home many times a week, and it is dangerous. People park right under no parking signs.

I appreciate the fact that RK bothered to get in touch with the city, as opposed to just fuming, which is the only thing I ever do.

I'll write the church if you will. Deal?

Another 40 year resident of those cobblestone streets chimes in: AMEN. Absolutely ridiculous that Wallace Avenue, which is turning in to Dead Man's Curve (ever tried turning left off seventh street?) should be clogged at any time of the day, ever. Didn't someone die at the intersection of eighth and Wallace last year?

Holy Rosary should be ashamed, and so should the parishioners who have a massive parking lot with no one in it. I know because I've been to many services there--they park on the street to save 2.5 minutes of time getting out of a parking lot.

What if the people parking near the church itself are elders or have mobility issues?  What if they don't have "handicapped" stickers because they get a ride to church with family or friends on Sunday mornings?

I have a good friend on Wallace Ave and I agree that it is already dangerous.  I don't think anyone should park on the sidewalk, especially if they have a parking lot nearby. I'm just saying that there may be reasons for this no one has thought of since apparently no one mentioned the problem to the church.  

I agree Chief Ramsay is the Bomb for writing a letter in response on PDD, and being so reasonable in his comments.  

The church does not pay taxes, nor would the school.  However, there are no doubt many influential, so to speak, east-enders who do pay a lot of taxes that attend that church.  

A neighbor of mine one block away from HoRo has contacted the city and police several times about this parking issue. As it was explained to me, he was told that the city just kind of lets it go because it is only one day a week and they are there "for a good purpose." However when my friend asked why the Duluth East High School students do get ticketed for minor parking infractions and if the city viewed religion to be of a better purpose than education he was left with a blank stare.

Here's an even easier solution: Don't take Wallace or Woodland on Saturdays and Sundays.  Clearly this situation has y'all slightly perturbed, so simply avoid the areas.  Problem solved.  I believe this would fall into the category of "If you don't like it, don't look."

So the only way out of your yard to walk lil' Fido is onto Wallace and out into the middle of the street?  I find this hard to believe, considering I know the area well.  I also have a tough time believing that people are parking in yards and blocking driveways, as the photos depict none of this activity.

Bottom line, B-Man: If you don't like where you live, move.  If you don't want your dog to get run over, don't walk it in crowded traffic areas.  And if you don't want Catholics parking on your side of the street, don't live near a Catholic Cathedral.  This has to be the most petty, insignificant discussion I've ever seen people get worked up about. 

I'm late to this party- Here is my rant, minus my swear words: I live RIGHT behind the church on Lakeview and as a Catholic (my family & I belong to another neighborhood Catholic church) between the blatant disregard for walking into traffic at the corners(wait one moment frakin' go as a group not a steady stream of idiots walking one by one as cars are sitting there for 20 minutes trying to get thru) and the parking where ever they feel fit on 4th, Wallace and even Lakeview from time to time (I wish I still had the picture from last summers moron who parked DIRECTLY infront blocking my driveway, my only way to get my car out to go to my churches mass which I missed that day- for over an hour who nicely told me to "shut up" when I sat outside waiting from them to get out of mass- Nice Catholic family they were) I am fed up with that church and their officials.  I've nicely written letters, sent lovely cards asking them to remind people to park in the lot rather than the street, on sidewalks, I've called and politely voiced my opinion for over 3 years but I've been ignored every time.  So really if its not up to the police to ticket, City Officially to deal with and if the church continues to ignore the issue then its most likely a fight that will go on for years...

The city should appropriate the unused land across the street, and sell it for revenue.

Blood.

Update: I just got home from work and the lot was packed. Not one car on Wallace. Winning.

I think it was a wedding. And it's true. I saw only one illegally parked car (wrong side of 5th),  and I don't know if that person was even at the church. Nobody was illegally parked on Wallace. Somehow the people at the church must have figured out a way to get the word out. So, maybe instead of an indignant letter, I'll send a letter of thanks.