SOMERVILLE — A tussle over parking is creating tension in the long-running partnership between the borough and the Classic Cruizers Car Club.
Since 1990, the club has been attracting vintage auto owners and fans to the borough on Friday nights in the summer.
The club has used the municipal parking lot behind the United Reformed Church on West Main Street for several years, putting up signs designating the space for classic cars, according to club member Clifford Billick. There are about 50 spots in the lot, but the club can fit as many as 150 vehicles, Billick said.
Somerville District Management Corp. (DMC) officials and Borough Administrator Kevin Sluka recently met with the club about this year's "Cruize Nites" and, in the process, asked it to instead use Division Street, which would have been reserved for the club, according to DMC Executive Director Cynthia Hollod.
Hollod said the proposal was meant to provide patron parking for downtown merchants but also make it easier for the club to manage vehicles.
But club members spoke out against the swap during a borough council meeting on April 6. Division Street would have provided the club with a maximum of just 30 spaces, Billick said yesterday.
"We're only asking for three hours every Friday," Billick said. "I don't know where to go from here except saying forget about it ... That's what some of the guys were saying last night, "Then forget about it, we won't go here, we've only been doing it for 19 years.' "
Sluka said Tuesday that, rather than push Division Street as an option, officials will likely propose letting the club continue to use the lot.
"We love the Cruizers, they're a great asset to the town and it's a great tradition that people look forward to," Hollod said. "We'll continue to work with them that the event works for everybody." Mayor Brian Gallagher also pledged to work with the car club during the April 6 council meeting.
The loss of parking at the Downtown Somerville Shopping Center puts an additional strain on parking. The site between West Main Street and Veterans Memorial Drive is fenced off in anticipation of stalled redevelopment plans. Hollod said the lot wasn't open on Friday nights last year.
Hollod said the event continues to grow in popularity both in terms of drawing visitors and classic car enthusiasts to the borough.
"It's a good problem to face in the sense that we need to just ensure there is a place for everybody," Hollod said.
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To Believe In Legal Immigration And Not Illegal Immigration Does Not Make One A Racist (Quote: Lou Dobbs CNN)
That will never happen, trust me. BB's Downtown Little Mexico would never fit the bill for the Classic Cruisers Car Club that runs the Somerville Cruise. People come from all around to go to the Somerville Cruise. They like to sit and chat along the Somerville Main Street where the Cruise is held. I don't think they would be comfortable sitting and chatting along the Main Street of Bound Brook and what a shame because back in the day our Main Street in town could of hosted such an Event. I am talking about the days when Loree's Drug Store and other American Run stores were up and down the BB Main Street. Today it is like Little Mexico I am sorry to say down there. It could never happen today.
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To Believe In Legal Immigration And Not Illegal Immigration Does Not Make One A Racist (Quote: Lou Dobbs CNN)
Only people who remove their blinders see the REAL Main St Bound Brook. Others choose to ignore and smile and act like eveyrthing is ok. Im still anxiously awaiting the changes and the new BB that WE the voters were all promised.
