If you’ve seen the quotes in the Houston Press from the city of Houston about our parking issue at Ziggy’s Montrose, nothing was accurate.

It’s not true that we opened without sufficient parking. It’s also not true that we had a change of ownership and let the lease for our parking lot lapse.

The city seems determined to cast our issue as a repeat of what has happened on Washington Avenue.  Probably so the city wouldn’t be blamed for another Washington Avenue in the making.  This is NOT a repeat of what happened on Washington Avenue. In fact, it’s the opposite.

We’ve been open since July 2nd, 2007.

We had a legally valid contract to not only lease but also purchase our parking lot. The contract was in place before we even bought the restaurant. Can’t have a restaurant without parking after all. Not prudent to make a huge investment and not be compliant.

The owner of the parking lot refused to honor the contract. We then litigated for 2 1/2 years to secure our parking.

The only complaint about parking? In the fall of 2009, after we had been open for 2 1/2 years, FROM THE OWNER OF THE PARKING LOT. She called the city so much that she was finally nicknamed “crazy lady”.

Why? To see if she couldget even more money for her lot while our lawsuit dragged on.

The same owner is also responsible for Dean’s on Fairview losing their lease for parking.  She called the owner of that building and demanded he buy her other lot (for an exorbitant amount) or she would have Dean’s closed.

The same owner also called other business owners in the area and tried to lease and sell the SAME property we had under contract.

The same owner also called other property owners to demand that they tow cars.

Again, why? To drive up the price of her property by using the city’s parking ordinance as a very explicit threat.

It’s so egregious that a property owner can use the city’s ordinance to extort money from business AFTER they open that it just boggles my mind.

We met with the city to provide these facts in response to the “complaint” about our parking; I’m very dismayed that the facts weren’t accurately represented if city officials were willing to be quoted by the Houston Press.

We wanted to be in Montrose to be part of the neighborhood.  Half of our employees, as well as many of our customers, walk bike or commute. We want to be part of the city’s mixed use vision for the inner loop which is why we choose to invest here.

While the city has allowed more dense housing inside the Loop, the parking ordinance is 25 years old.  If you wonder why restaurants only seem to be located in strip shopping centers…now you know why.  It’s the only place with affordable rent plus sufficient parking  as required by the city.

Regardless of what happens to Ziggy’s Montrose, the long term issue looms.  Remember that Montrose was awarded the honor of one of the top 10 neighborhoods in the country?  Because it’s a walkable, eclectic mix of residences and businesses.  Let’s hope that the 105 year old house in which we are located doesn’t become a parking lot.