‘Does this look like a BMW neighborhood?'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Residents of a low-income senior housing complex say dozens of luxury cars crowd their block in the Kerns neighborhood. While it's a frustration for neighbors, KOIN 6 News discovered this issue also violates local and federal law.
KOIN 6 News is working to find solutions for these seniors in Northeast Portland, after investigating a social media post about BMWs and Mini Coopers blocking sidewalks and streets in the area.
These cars are being serviced by Boyd Motor Werks at NE 18th and Everett. This shop specializes in fixing those European-manufactured cars.
Elizabeth Fischer lives in a 75-unit senior apartment complex right next door to Boyd Motor Werks. When KOIN 6 News spoke with her, there were two dozen BMWs and Mini Coopers taking up about 25% of the street parking in a one-block radius around the auto repair shop and apartment.
'I mean, does this look like a BMW neighborhood?' Fischer said.
In addition to taking up a significant portion of the immediate street parking in the area around the auto shop, the business' parking lot is also packed.
'I saw this Mini Cooper that was actually blocking people's access to the sidewalk. I just couldn't believe it,' she said. 'It made me furious because there are people in my building who use walkers and some people who use wheelchairs.'
Cars parked like this in the business' driveway also take over the sidewalk – violating the Americans with Disabilities Act because it obstructs access for people with disabilities.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation told KOIN 6 News reports of parked vehicles blocking sidewalks are a top priority for PBOT Parking Enforcement.
'We can generally respond on the same day – often within a few hours. Our officers have discretion to speak with the vehicle owner (if they're available) to move the car, or our officers can have the vehicle towed immediately,' said Dylan Rivera, a PBOT spokesperson.
Shop owner Eric Edwards told KOIN 6 News neighbors 'complain all the time' about his parking situation, but that he will move the cars if he's asked.
Fischer said that's not always possible if she comes home after the auto shop closes at 5PM.
'I actually wound up parking on the other side of Burnside one day because I couldn't find a parking spot,' Fischer said. 'It seems like the repair shop is taking up a lot more spaces than they're entitled to.'
A Portland parking ordinance makes it unlawful for any vehicle repair business to park vehicles on a street, alley, lane or other public right-of-way while the car is in the business' possession.
When KOIN 6 News asked Edwards to comment about the illegal parking, he declined. But he did later email a statement:
'Thank you for stopping by today and bring [sic] to my attention that it is illegal for us or my client to park on the street. The city has never said anything about that to us.
We try really hard to be courteous to our neighbors and help them out. Every chance I get when I see one of them is to let them know if I have a car parked where they need to be please come and ask me, and I will move it right away.
We are working extra hard to move these cars as fast as we can, we don't want to be a burden on anyone or put anyone out. We care about our neighbors and our community.'
Ken Ray with said his code enforcement team will work with parking enforcement to look into this issue.
'We have a complaint-based system, so if we don't receive a complaint, we don't know about it. So it's important for the public if they see something to report it to us and we'll take a look,' Ray told KOIN 6 News. 'I'm sure we'll be talking with the Portland Bureau of Transportation based on whatever our inspector sees at the site and we'll be in contact with them to address whether there are any code violations and what the appropriate steps would be to follow up.'
Anyone who is concerned about this body shop or a similar right-of-way parking issue can file a confidential code complaint with Portland Permitting and Development online, by email—codec@portlandoregon.gov—or by phone, 503.823.2633
'We'll open a case and investigate,' Ray said.
Fischer didn't realize it is illegal for the repair shop to utilize public street parking. She has now filed a complaint with the city. KOIN 6 News is not aware of any other complaints against the business.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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