COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) – Parking disputes are not unusual, but the controversial response of Colorado business owners is drawing attention.
David Brown, owner of Fallen Heroes Tattoo & Piercing, said parking issues with a nearby apartment complex began several months ago.
His business is located just east of Old Colorado City in Colorado Springs. Right next to Brown’s business is a five-story apartment complex.
The parking situation is not ideal for the new complex or Brown’s business, with only small lots behind several businesses and a few streets off Colorado Avenue.
There is an alley between the two buildings, but the parking lot directly across from Fallen Heroes on the west side belongs to an apartment complex and only permits parking permits.
There is a sign on the side of the apartment indicating that this is a private parking lot with permission. However, there are no signs on the Fallen Heroes building.
Employees say they don’t want to hang the sign over an existing mural advertising the store.
Brown claims 30 to 40 customers had their cars towed over the course of about four months.
Brown believes apartment complexes could do more to prevent vehicles from being towed. In response, Brown added a giant mural depicting penises to the roof of his home.
“A new apartment complex just opened next to our store and they’re towing all the customers’ cars. We tried to be fair, but now we’re going to fight back with a mural,” Brown said. he said.
Several residents of the apartment complex said they unfortunately couldn’t afford to miss the mural.
One resident explained, “I’m worried.” “I don’t have any children or anything, but even as an adult I don’t want to look out the window and see something like that.”
Brown said she doesn’t blame the tow companies and understands they have a job to do, but the situation has left many customers confused about where they can park. .
“I can understand the confusion of people parking right next to the building,” he says. “That spot looks like it’s part of a building. You can’t blame the person who parked there by mistake.”
The towing company representing the apartment complex is following the rules because the property in question requires a parking permit, according to Colorado law.
Representatives for the apartment complex’s property management company said they could not comment much on the parking situation, but said they were working with code enforcement and the city to address the issue.
The Colorado Springs Police Department said the mural is not considered graffiti because the building’s owner approved it.
Brown said parking issues could be solved if apartment complexes clearly marked parking spots with paint.
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