Fence frustrates shoppers

Dave's Marketplace, Home Loan seek agreement

By Tessa Roy
Posted 1/12/17

By TESSA ROY Shoppers and businesses alike were confused Tuesday when they found a fence had been put up in the parking lot of the Home Loan Plaza on Airport Road, separating a few parking lanes between Dave's Marketplace next door and the rest of the

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Fence frustrates shoppers

Dave's Marketplace, Home Loan seek agreement

Posted

Shoppers and businesses alike were confused Tuesday when they found a fence had been put up in the parking lot of the Home Loan Plaza on Airport Road, separating a few parking lanes between Dave’s Marketplace next door and the rest of the lot.

Shopper David A. Rourke contacted the Beacon about the fence and wondered if it was Dave’s that had installed it. He said he also talked to other shoppers who were frustrated that it cut off the access point to the parking lot and entrance to Dave’s on Warwick Avenue. Those shopping at the marketplace had to park within the confines of the fence.

Indeed, a trip to the plaza on Wednesday morning proved people were confused – a few motorists were seen driving to the end of the fence, stopping, and backing up once drivers realized they could not drive through the lot to access Warwick Avenue.

Those working at the Home Loan Investment Bank declined to comment, but others inside neighboring Subway and Great Clips said they didn’t know why it was there. A store manager and cashier working at Dave’s both said the marketplace had not in fact put up the fence and that they’d been having to explain that to many of their customers throughout the day.

“I can confirm that it’s not us. We would never inconvenience our customers that way,” said Sue Budlong, the marketing and communications manager for Dave’s.

Others thought Home Loan had installed the fence. In response, Brian J. Murphy, president and chairman of Home Loan, made the following statement:

"Over the past couple of years, we have asked Dave's Marketplace to participate in discussions regarding the portion of our property that we have made available to them. We have enjoyed a neighborly relationship with Dave's Marketplace for decades, and out of courtesy for our shared neighbors, we hope we can resolve this matter in a timely fashion.”

Future plans in regards to the lot are dependent upon an agreement being reached between the two parties, another Home Loan representative said. 

Budlong also said “rest assured, we are looking to resolve the issue.”

Comments

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  • Kammy

    No offense Home Loan but you really are not doing yourself any favors. The amount of traffic Dave's generates far outweighs the traffic you generate. In fact, one could even go as far as to say you ought to be thankful that you are located in such a high profile and high traffic area. If you want to bite your nose off to spite your face, be my guest. But know that now that I know that it was you that put the fence up, I will not be doing business with you in the future. Trying to get in and out of Dave's is a pain in the butt on a good day. Now that you have cut off access to the other side it will be even worse. Good job Home Loan.

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    This is the kind of nonsense that occurs when people like Mr. Brian J. Murphy are given a little "Authoritahhh".

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • Lynnmarie

    I am sure Home Loan benefits from the traffic detail Dave's provides on busy days. Is Dave's asking Home Load to pay for a portion of that? I am a member at Home Load but will pull my accounts if they are going to stoop to this level. This is an inconvenience to their customers! This is also causing issues with the traffic flow on Airport Road. I wonder if the fence is within city code?

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • ABXR4ME

    Let's just point out the obvious...Home Loan wants more money for the use of the parking lot. Dave's replaced and paid for all the new fencing in the rear of the parking lot, Dave's paid for all the restriping of the parking lot, Dave's pays for the snow removal, Dave's generates traffic that Home Loan otherwise wouldn't see but, they're not getting enough money. A "neighborly relationship"...how neighborly to erect a fence in the middle of the night without speaking to anyone. How about having the bank employees tell their customers that Dave's put the fence up when they in fact did it? I bet if you ask that elderly woman who fell trying to get around the fence she wouldn't say Home Loan is being neighborly.

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    fences make good neighbors

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • Fenceman89

    We do realize there is a large front parking area as well so complaining about driving in circles can be corrected by parking in the front. Common sense lacks badly in Warwick and it wouldn't be so bad if everyone let each other in and out but we're in Rhode Island so we're entitled to be s$&@ heads to each other

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • Dbleduce1

    Dave's Market restripped the parking lot without permission and to their benefit. And the benefit was more parking due to the expansion of the business. So let's find out all the facts before we start blaming. So maybe Dave's Market should have come to home loan and see what agreement they could have come up with

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • ABXR4ME

    Come on Dbleduce1 you can't you do better than that? Restripped? Anyway, so the restriping provided no benefit to the bank? To the other businesses? Didn't that provide more spaces in the back for employees of all the businesses to park leaving more open in the front and sides for customers? Wasn't restriping done specifically for the bank as well? Well, yes it was. Clearly painted for the drive thru with arrows and all. How is what the bank doing benefitting their (your) business now? Customers are angry/confused and a customer has been hurt. Admit it, it was a low blow to install that fence after hours and then to try to blame it on Dave's.

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • davebarry109

    It's called property rights. It's their property.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • Peace123

    I understand both parties frustrations but one wouldn't take it upon themselves to rebuild a neighbors shed without consent. In fact, that would be absurd. I do also believe Home Loan owns the entire plaza, not just the bank. When I had inquired about the fence, a Dave's employee told me to talk to the bank. I decided to take a stroll around the fence. The girls working were very nice & seemed quite uncomfortable with my inquiry. The manager told me the owner is not based out of that location & she didn't have any information. I am hoping this comes to a resolution before the weekend, the traffic will be a mess. I may just run to Stop & Shop instead avoiding the big fence debate all together.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • ABC123

    Putting up this fence was a horrible decision. It does nothing to promote business for Home Loan and is a great disservice to the community. I cannot think of any other plaza with shared stores where fencing exists and it is mind boggling WHY any thinking individual would see this fencing as beneficial for any reason!

    As of 2 PM this afternoon, the situation on Airport Rd leading to Hoxie was insane...even with a traffic control officer at entrance to Dave's doing his best to deal with the mess.. not only a stupid move, but one that is compromising public safety.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • NikkiinWarwick

    Giving that it is quality work, anyone who wants to come and improve my property is more than welcome! My driveway and neighbor's fence, like the old parking lot and fence behind those buildings, would benefit from a face-lift.

    I had considered opening an account because it would be very convenient to bank where I shop. After witnessing this stunt, I can only conclude that they don't really care about potential and existing customers and thank the bank management. Their actions speak louder than any marketing campaign.

    Friday, January 13, 2017 Report this

  • Stella

    I think the traffic detail out weighs any other problem Home Loan might have with Dave's. In fact I think the Plaza on the other side of Airport road should help pay for this Police Detail as I can not count how many time I have been helped by the officer when exiting from that location. So who ever the person is that made this poorly thought out plan at Home Loan you might want to reconsider. Can you say insert foot in mouth. On a side note it makes your Bank look like it is going out of business.

    Saturday, January 14, 2017 Report this

  • ABC123

    Reluctantly headed to Dave's this afternoon expecting to battle the fence issue and happily the fence had been removed! With it being a Saturday, Patriot game upcoming tonight, for sure it was a busy venue, but traffic officer's good work made for a manageable situation and cannot even begin to imagine how awful things would have been if that horrendous, stupid fence was still in place. And yes, I totally agree those accessing Airport Rd from the plaza and gas station across the street from Dave's, in addition to anyone driving along this stretch, customers frequenting Home Loan, Subway, are and have for many years also been beneficiaries due to Dave's hiring of traffic officers during busy times;-)

    Saturday, January 14, 2017 Report this

  • Kammy

    I went to Dave's last night and the fence was down. I am not sure what communication or negotiations happened, I am just thankful that it is resolved. Regardless of the situation or all the good reasons as to why it went up, it was a bad move and I am glad it has been removed.

    Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Report this