TIGHT SQUEEZE

Whether you’re driving a Ford F-150 Platinum or a MINI Cooper, an inch matters when it comes to the size of your parking space. Where in Preston Hollow is parking the most spacious? Where are you likely to scratch your ride? We measured.

BY LISA KRESL

Ford F-150 Platinum

6' 8" - 7' 2" in width

Spots In The Same Lots

TOM THUMB

Near the store entrance: 7' 10"

Far from the store entrance: 8' 02"

CENTRAL MARKET

8' 6"

Space marked compact: 7 ' 8"

PRESTON CENTER

PARKING GARAGE

Fir st floor: 8' 10"

Second floor: 8' 7"

A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS THE WIDTH OF PARKING SPACES VARIES WIDELY.

NARROWEST SPOT:

McDonald’s: 7' 3"

MIDDLE OF THE LOT:

Ne ar Fish City Grill: 8' 4"

Ruggeri’s: 8' 8"

Near Celebrity Café & Bakery: 8' 11"

WIDEST SPOTS:

Near Princi Italia: 9' 3"

Near Buda Juice: 9' 2"

Arepa: 9'

Park Plaza Salon: 9' Taco Joint: 9'

GIVE AN INCH, SCRAPE A MILE.

We’re at the northeast corner of Preston-Royal Village when security guard Randy Winchester speeds up in his golf cart and asks about the measuring tape.

“This is private property,” he announces. We exchange phone numbers so he can report the incident to his manager.

Nothing nefarious is happening. The measuring tape is being used to document the width of the parking spaces in the lot. The size of the space at Preston-Royal Village? Eight feet, 8 inches, measured from the middle of one yellow stripe to the next. This is the best practice when it comes to measuring, according to David Cossum, director of Sustainable Development & Construction for the City of Dallas. He says that 7 and a half foot stalls may constitute no more than 35 percent of the required parking spaces for any use. In Dallas, the width of a parking space should be at least 8 feet, 5 inches, for a regular space, and 7 feet, 5 inches, for a compact space.

But when you drive a Ford F-150 Platinum (6 feet, 8 inches, to 7 feet, 2 inches, in width), a Yukon Denali (6 feet, 9 inches wide), a Range Rover (6 feet, 6 inches wide) or even a Lexus 470 (6 feet 2 inches wide), as so many of us neighbors know, size matters.

Dan Hennessey of Big Red Dog Engineering says the field is not regulated, but 9 feet, 8 inches, is typical and 8 feet is narrow and not best practice. “Anything below that,“ he says, “and you won’t be able to open your door.”

Marketplace

Dutch Art Gallery

Fine Art & Custom Framing

SHERI JONES

Meet the Artist

Thursday, June 7th I 6-Spm

Visit with gallery artist Sheri Jones. See a special selection of her work during our May First Thursday Event.

Artist Demonstration

Saturday, June 9th I 11am-2pm

Showcasing her vibrant, impressionistic style.

DAN “THE COMPUTER GUY”

Computer Repair

972.639.6413 stykidan@sbcglobal.net

Don’t panic! Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky windows computer. Hardware & software installation, troubleshooting, training, $60/hour — one hour minimum.

JACK F. LEWIS JR., CPA

TAX TIP: Rollovers-401K or IRA? Make sure it’s a Trustee to Trustee transfer or you’ll have problems.

Tax Preparation · IRS Audit Representation IRS Notice Resolution · 30 + years

Painting: “View From St. Michel”

8” x 1 O” I Original Oil

10233 E. Northwest Hwy. Dallas, TX 75238

214.348.7350 dutchartgallery.net

214-821-0829

WILLIAM R. WILSON

Attorney at Law jlewis@jlewiscpa.com 6440 N. Central Expressway, Suite 505 Dallas, TX 75206 214-871-2201 wrw@woolleywilson.com

Call me for a free consultation about Wills & Probate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, and Business or Commercial matters. There are many ways to avoid or resolve a dispute without costly litigation. I can also help with Adoptions, Child Custody, Child Support or other Family or Probate matters.