Oakmont Business Owner Pleads to Keep Parking Spots on College Avenue

Business and building owner Jim Siciliano spoke to Oakmont Council last week about his and other merchants’ request to consider keeping the current parking spots on College Avenue—between Allegheny Avenue and Cedar Way—perpendicular to the road instead of changing the layout to require parallel parking.

According to Oakmont Council President Tim Favo, the change is under consideration because of safety concerns for those backing out of those spots into traffic.

According to Siciliano, he’s installed and maintained those parking spots, including the installation of sidewalks, curbs and painted lines, for over 30 years. This work was based on an agreement between Siciliano and council at the time.

“If parking there is changed, we’ll lose nine spots,” he said. “It will be a great financial burden to business owners if we lose those spots. I don’t know if some businesses could survive.”

If the change does happen, merchants will be left with five spots in that area where they currently have 14. According to Siciliano, they’ve already lost 21 spots by the railroad tracks because of the Edgewater at Oakmont housing development.

“That intersection isn’t what it was 30 years ago,” Favo said citing increased traffic now and in the future when residents from the Edgewater development move in.

Siciliano said he did not see how the development would impact traffic since there are multiple ways to leave that area. He also said he has not seen many changes in traffic even with the multiple construction vehicles and workers entering that area.

“Tenants are waiting to renew their leases and some have been lost because they don’t know what’s going to happen with the parking,” he said. “I think there is a moral and legal obligation [for council] to maintain the use of these spots.”

Favo said Siciliano would have to submit a formal, written request to council for officials to discuss the situation. Favo said if parking was changed, council would consider parallel parking on both sides of the street—leaving 10 spots, not five. Siciliano said that would help the situation.