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Residents contest sale of small Rockdale Avenue parcel used as neighborhood parking; city to review yard‑sale process
Summary
A long‑used informal parking parcel on Rockdale Avenue was sold and privatized, a resident told the council; the city manager and solicitor agreed to review the yard‑sale process and reach out to the new owner to explore possible neighborhood solutions such as shared 'car‑condo' arrangements.
A Lowell resident told the City Council on Oct. 28 that a small parcel on Rockdale Avenue long used by neighbors for parking was sold and later converted for private tenant parking with enforcement by towing, leaving neighbors with diminished street parking options.
"When I acquired the property... I knew that there was a piece of land that is directly in front of my own property... it was just abandoned and not really maintained. It was serving as parking for most resident in the area," Francois Tuca said, asking the council to reconsider the sale or find a way to preserve neighborhood parking options. He said he was surprised to learn the parcel had been sold and expressed concern that one owner now controls the formerly public space.
City staff described the city's yard‑sale program for small, non‑buildable parcels (typically under 5,000 square feet) and said the program's goal is to remove unused lots from city ownership. The city manager suggested having the solicitor's office review the transaction and contact the current owner to explore whether a negotiated solution is possible; staff indicated they would provide parcel data and outreach.
Councilors suggested alternative approaches, including a "car‑condo" model used in other neighborhoods (shared parking managed by abutters) and stronger neighborhood notification when small parcels are declared surplus. One councilor noted a 2019 vote to declare the property surplus and that a ZBA discussion in September referenced the parcel's sale, suggesting the case may be well along the approval track.
What happens next: the city solicitor will review the yard‑sale process for the parcel, and staff will attempt to contact the owner to explore remedies or shared‑parking options with neighbors. The council passed a motion to refer the matter for further review and outreach.
