A tattoo studio in Colorado Springs has stirred up a debate by painting a provocative mural on its rooftop as a form of retaliation against a neighboring apartment building.
Fallen Heroes tattoo shop has been in a long-standing feud with 532CO apartments, both situated along Colorado Avenue, USA.
While other businesses on the street might get along just fine, these two entities are in a dispute over several parking spaces located in an alleyway.
These spots are adjacent to the main entrance of the tattoo shop, leading to confusion for many customers who might mistakenly think they are entering an apartment complex.
David Brown and his team assert that the owners of 532CO have had numerous vehicles towed that belong to their patrons, claiming there is a lack of clear signage for the private parking areas.
“All they ever tell us is ‘That’s our property. Suck it.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, I don’t know what else to do,’” Brown told the New York Post. “Because they’re not breaking any rules. It’s just, why be a d**k.”
The tattoo artist explained: “So for anybody driving in there it looks like, ‘Oh, cool, I can park super close to the shop.’ The signs are all the way across the alley, mounted on their building.”
In response, the owners of the tattoo shop have adorned their roof with a large mural depicting male genitalia, sparking some controversy among locals.
Brown believes the issue could be easily resolved by adding a ‘Resident Parking’ sign, which would be spray-painted onto the parking spots.
“Management. You can’t talk to anybody. They put you on a voicemail, and you don’t ever get to talk to anybody,” Brown added. “We started talking about it and thought. ‘Maybe the whole neighborhood loves this apartment building that looks like Ikea threw up’.
“We thought, ‘Maybe we’re the d***s!’ So we asked ourselves what everybody liked doing on the mountains that we used to be able to see.”
Boardwalk Property Management, the company behind the apartments, responded to KRDO13 with a statement: “At 532CO Apartments, we have ample signage clearly designating the areas for resident parking only, specifically within our designated lot.
“Our towing policies apply strictly to vehicles in this lot, and we do not tow from public spaces such as the street or alley. If we were towing from public areas, we would be in contact with the city regarding such issues; however, this has not been a concern, as our practices comply fully with city regulations and are limited solely to private parking areas reserved for our residents.
“We understand the importance of clear communication with our neighbors and encourage businesses in the area to reach out if they have any concerns.
“To date, we have not been made aware of unresolved contact attempts, but we are more than willing to establish an open line of communication to ensure a mutual understanding.”