Residents of one of Halifax's oldest neighbourhoods say they're calling for stricter on-street parking rules because often they are not able to get a spot near their own homes.

Schmidtville is bordered by Morris Street, Brenton Street, Dresden Row, Birmingham Street and Clyde Street. Residents in the area held a meeting Wednesday night to share their concerns with District 7 Coun. Waye Mason.

"If nobody speaks up then nothing is going to get done," said William Breckenridge, vice-chair of the Schmidtville stakeholders committee.

Balance needed

Construction has meant limited street access for parts of Schmidtville. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

Breckenridge said construction is adding to street-parking congestion, as are the drivers who are just looking for a free space to park.

"As an administrator the city has to go ahead and try to find a balance ... and make it so that residents, construction, everything can come together and try to be as cohesive as possible," he said.

Breckenridge's family has lived in the neighbourhood for more than 50 years. He said the parking situation "is a nightmare."

"We don't have a driveway. Most of the residents don't because the houses predate drivers, they predate the street, the sidewalk," said Breckenridge. "To double-park just to put your groceries in your house, you shouldn't have to do that."

'It's a fight'

Clyde Street and Dresden Row are part of one of Halifax's oldest neighbourhoods. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

"It's a fight. I've seen people almost get into fisticuffs ... people yelling outside the door at one another over a parking space," he said.

Breckenridge said construction has meant more dirt and dust around homes and vehicles.

Maggie Grice, 83, has lived on the lower part of Brenton Street since 1977 and said the traffic has become much heavier over the years.

'Impossible' to get a spot

People at this Wednesday night meeting of Schmidtville residents discussed the parking situation. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

"The parking has got so bad that even with a parking pass ... I started now to rent parking under Park Victoria because it's just impossible to get your car a spot," said Grice.

Grice said ideally she would like to have the spot in front of her spot to be designated just for her, but was told that option wasn't possible.

"I have my groceries to bring home. Just to be able to get out of my car, pull up, get out of my car and go into my house with them ... it's just impossible," said Grice.

Grice is concerned the parking situation will get worse because some of the newer buildings in her neighbourhood don't have enough parking spots for every apartment.

More permit-only parking

New permit-only signs were recently installed on Birmingham Street. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

Coun. Waye Mason suggested more streets in Schmidtville require permit parking control, such as what was recently launched on Birmingham Street.

Parking on the street is restricted to permit holders from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m, Monday to Saturday.

According to the municipality's residential on-street parking policy, those signs are not installed without first polling residents to see if it's a measure they would like to see on their street.

Ballots were given to property owners on Brenton, Clyde, and Morris streets, along with owners on Dresend Row on Tuesday June 28 with a return date of July 8.

Once the ballots are reviewed, the municipality will determine if and where more permit-only spots are needed.