COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WTVF) — Finding a parking spot near the Maury County Judicial Center in Columbia has become a source of growing frustration for neighbors, nearby business owners, and courthouse visitors alike.
At the corner of Main Street and East 10th Street, The Ridge Butcher Shop and Fresh Market sits across from the courthouse. Store manager Daniel Lilley says overflow parking from the judicial center regularly spills into the surrounding area — including the store's private lot.
"We have signs, professional ones, but also we've handwritten a sign that we put in the center of the driveway. That way if anyone drives past, it's obvious you weren't supposed to park here," Lilley said.
The courthouse serves all of Maury County, including juvenile court, and replaced the historic courthouse on the square. The move at the end of 2024 brought additional parking, but visitors say it still falls short of demand.
The Maury County Mayor says the facility has 173 spaces — more than the 165 required. However, site plans from the architect suggest roughly half of those spaces are behind a fence and reserved for staff.
One courthouse visitor described the scene near the building's entrance.
"The grass and the sidewalks in the front on Main Street — it's illegal to park there — they have been giving tickets out the last few weeks," Jennifer McClain said.
The parking crunch is also affecting residents on nearby streets. One homeowner on E. 10th Street says her mail has been skipped because vehicles were blocking her mailbox. She described trying to get help — and getting nowhere.
"I tried to call the police, and then they told me maybe you could call the mail service to see if there's something they can do," said Oneshia Prier.
She said the mail carrier told her there was nothing they could do either.
"They couldn't do anything about it, told me to call the cops — it was just around and around, and we couldn't figure it out," Prier said.
A Columbia Police Department spokesperson says officers issue tickets or warnings when they observe violations, but must balance parking enforcement with higher-priority calls. Since it's a public street, options for law enforcement are limited.
Lilley says he has contacted more than 20 officials seeking a resolution and has not received a callback. He says he does not believe towing is the right answer.
"I just want a resolution, to be quite honest. Our big thing is community engagement... I don't think it's morally or ethically right to just tow them," Lilley said.
He says a parking structure could solve the problem long-term.
"I don't know why there isn't a parking structure over there to account for the amount of people parking over there every day," Lilley said. "The same area they have that parking lot — there can be steps up, and there wouldn't be parking issues."
Not long after the courthouse opened, the Maury County Commission passed on an opportunity to buy the property next door for $600,000. The proposal got just one "yes" vote, with 16 commissioners voting against it.
Main Street Maury reported commissioners questioned the price, the property itself, and whether the judicial center was planned with enough parking in the first place.
If something in your community is causing frustration or making life harder, email me at hannah.mcdonald@newschannel5.com.
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