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.

The temporary memorial was built by the incident management team that eventually took over command of this fire. The men and women who are part of this team were so touched by what happened they wanted to give the community a place to honor the fallen.

"We want the ability for folks to come to Yarnell to read the biography, look out, have a moment to recognize the sacrifices made," says Pitassi. The memorial sits about a mile from where the firefighters died. A scope there allows people who want to grieve and honor the heroes a closer look at where the tragedy took place.

"There's a sense of peace and a sense of its not going to go away but I think its cathartic to be where they were to get that sense of what happened," says Cheryl Ring. The incident management team bused up anyone who wanted. People like ring, who wanted to see the lone flag that flies for the 19 fallen heroes.

"It's a tribute to the guys who are sacrificing their lives every day. It's not an easy job, there's nothing simple about what they do." The flag memorial is lit up by solar lights, and it is permanent. The pole was donated by APS. It was put in place this past Sunday, and the incident management team raised the flag on Monday. Click on their website solaronlamp for more information.