Residents of many apartment buildings in Vinh City are suffering from a lack of parking spaces for their cars.
(Baonghean.vn) - With the skyrocketing number of cars, most apartment buildings in Vinh City do not have enough parking spaces, forcing many residents to park their cars on the road, sidewalks, and pavements, which is both unsafe and unsightly.
The road has been turned into a parking lot.
After years of saving, at the end of December 2023, Ms. Phan Hien's family lived in...apartmentKim Truong Thi, residing in Truong Thi ward, Vinh City, recently purchased a car for daily use. Since picking up her car from the dealership, she has been struggling every day to find a parking spot on the streets surrounding her apartment building, such as Vo Thi Sau Street, Nguyen Kiem Street, and Nguyen Xi Street…
“My apartment building has an underground parking garage, but all the parking spaces have been full for a long time. Those of us who bought cars later are forced to find our own parking, mostly along Vo Thi Sau street right in front of the building. However, if we get home late and that street is full, we have to find a parking spot hundreds of meters away. It's heartbreaking to leave a newly purchased car parked outside day and night without anyone watching it…,” Ms. Hien shared.
Currently, thousands of apartment residents in Vinh City who own cars are facing the same difficulties as Ms. Hien. Most are worried because it's a valuable asset, but leaving it parked on the street poses a safety risk.
Ms. Hoang Quyen, a resident of TECCO Ben Thuy apartment building, said: “I moved here in 2020, and my family has owned a car since then. However, even after four years living in the apartment building, we still don't have a parking space and are forced to park on Huynh Thuc Khang street. Without protection from the sun and rain, our car deteriorates quickly, breaks down frequently, and requires countless repairs…”
Truong Thi Ward, located in the heart of Vinh City, currently has 6 apartment buildings, including Truong Thi Petroleum Apartment Building, Vinaconex 16, Truong Thinh, Kim Truong Thi, Truong Thanh, and Glory Place. According to a survey, all 6 buildings lack sufficient parking spaces, forcing residents to park on the street.
For example, the Truong Thanh apartment complex, located along Nguyen Kiem Street, lacks parking spaces, turning Nguyen Kiem Street into a parking lot stretching over 500 meters, occupying half the road. During peak hours, when students from Le Viet Thuat High School (located next to the apartment complex) leave school, the road becomes congested for a long stretch, making it impossible for two cars to pass each other.
At Truong Thinh apartment building, there are currently 335 households, with an estimated 250 owning cars. However, the basement and courtyard of the building can only accommodate about 150 cars; the remaining residents have to find parking spaces on streets such as Phan Dang Luu, Vo Thi Sau, and An Duong Vuong.
Currently, there are 80 apartment buildings in Vinh City. With the number of private cars increasing each year, while the available space, parking lots, and basement parking in these apartment buildings remain unchanged, most buildings are experiencing parking overload. Parking on the road and sidewalks is unavoidable, causing numerous problems and creating anxiety for residents.
Most recently, on February 22, 2024, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, residing in Vinh City, had his car parked on Pham Dinh Toai Street when a thief smashed the passenger side window and stole his bag containing money and all his personal documents. This incident further raises concerns among apartment residents about the lack of security when parking cars day and night on the street without supervision or protection.
According to information from the Traffic Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police, as of December 30, 2023, the number of newly purchased vehicles in the province was 20,000, placing it among the top localities with the highest number of car purchases nationwide. By the end of 2023, the total number of vehicles under management in Nghe An province was 177,533 vehicles of all types, with the majority concentrated in Vinh City.
People are finding ways to adapt.
Besides the increase in car purchases by residents, the reality in recent years, especially before 2020, is that many apartment buildings have been constructed in Vinh City while the infrastructure has not been planned in detail or invested in accordingly. This is especially true for underground parking. While in other countries, underground parking is designed with 3-5 levels, in Vietnam in general and in Nghe An province in particular, it is usually only 1 level. Because the investment costs are much higher compared to above-ground parking and the technical requirements are more advanced, not every project and contractor can afford to build one.
Quang Trung Ward has the highest number of apartment buildings in Vinh City, with approximately 20 buildings. Solving the parking problem for apartment residents is currently considered a very challenging task.
Mr. Dinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Quang Trung Ward People's Committee, stated: "The pressure on parking spaces in apartment buildings in the area is immense, and many residents have complained about this issue. There have even been conflicts and disputes between residents regarding parking spaces. Currently, within the ward's authority, for apartment buildings or shopping centers under construction, the ward has proposed adding an extra floor for parking to address the parking needs of residents. As for apartment buildings that are already operational, residents must proactively ensure the safety of their property when forced to park outside the building, especially by not stopping or parking on prohibited roads."
A representative from the management board of an apartment building in Vinh City said: "Every day, residents contact us to ask if there are any parking spaces left in the basement, but in reality, all the parking spaces have been taken for a long time. Occasionally, some residents sell their apartments and move to houses, returning their parking spaces. We are forced to hold a lottery to ensure fairness, because dozens of households want to be the next to own that space..."
Currently, apartment residents in Vinh City are forced to find solutions to cope with the lack of parking spaces. Many are seeking options such as contacting nearby households who have unused yards or spaces to rent for monthly parking. Others park their cars at relatives' homes or workplaces if they live nearby. The majority of remaining residents park their vehicles on various streets.
According to recommendations, if people park their vehicles on the streets or sidewalks, they should leave their phone number so that homeowners or shop owners can contact them, avoiding unnecessary conflicts. To ensure safety, people should not leave valuable items inside their vehicles to prevent theft, and if possible, vehicle owners should install anti-theft alarm systems.
In the long term, the authorities and departments of Vinh City need to pilot solutions for organizing and implementing parking services in interstitial land areas and project land, but ensuring fire safety, establishing proper parking procedures, and fulfilling financial obligations to the State.
