Alleviating Blind Brook Lodge's Parking Crunch

A solution to the parking problem at a venerable Rye co-op, Blind Brook Lodge, has been reached following a series of government approvals obtained by the local law firm McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP (MGS). 

Additional parking was sought for residents of the Lodge located at 66 Milton Road in Rye. The Lodge, according to a release from MGS, has 133-units and the building's garage has just 41 parking spots. The coop owns a site across the street at 75 Milton Road where there are 38 additional spots, for a total of just 79 parking spaces for the 133-unit building. 

The parking shortage was causing shareholders to lease parking spaces off-site including at a nearby church (which is currently for sale) and the Rye Arts Center  according to MGS the law firm secured a special permit/zoning variance from the Rye Board of Appeals and approval from the Rye Planning Commission for the new parking lot. The lot will consist of 92 spaces to be constructed at 75 Milton Road, bringing the Blind Brook Lodge parking capacity to a total of 133 spaces – one for every unit in the building.  

The new plan, according to the release, incorporates modern stormwater management measures, energy efficient LED lights, and enhanced landscaping, while retaining much of the existing gardens in the rear of the property, as well as the existing playground, so these amenities may continue to be enjoyed by the shareholders.  The plan also retains and enhances a substantial vegetative buffer between the new parking lot and the closest residential neighbor to the south.

In addition, the MGS release explained that as required by the Rye Planning Commission and endorsed by the Rye Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee, the project will include the installation of state-of-the-art traffic and pedestrian safety technology, including solar-powered LED flashing beacons. The beacons will be pedestrian-activated to better alert drivers of the crosswalk between 66 and 75 Milton Road.