The Colony of LAX Parking Lot B

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  07.20.09 | 4:21 PM ET

Great story in the Los Angeles Times about a community of pilots and other airline workers that lives in trailers and motor homes in a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport. Dan Weikel writes:

For several years, clusters of RVs were scattered around the airport’s parking lots until LAX officials decided to consolidate them in Lot B. Now operating as an organized camp overseen by the airport, it has an unofficial mayor, a code of conduct and residency requirements, including background checks, regular vehicle inspections and proof of employment at an air carrier.

The constant noise of the airplanes flying overhead would drive me nuts, but the residents of the colony don’t seem to mind. Or maybe they just have good white noise machines, like one of the three residents profiled in the terrific accompanying audio slideshow.

Tags: Air Travel, Airworld, Audio-Video, Why We Travel, North America, United States, California, Los Angeles, News and Briefs


6 Comments for The Colony of LAX Parking Lot B

Grizzly Bear Mom 07.21.09 | 8:58 AM ET

This makes a lot more sense than the commuting many pilots do.  They commute from their homes in say Pittsburgh to Newark, which is the location from where they pilot planes.  It looks like can get more rest, enabling them to fly more effectively, and afford to live in the locations from which they pilot.

Jon Bellinger 07.28.09 | 1:14 AM ET

Look at this life! and this is a well paid professional - airplane pilot. What can I say about an average americans? Tough times

Cheap Airport Parking

Diana L. Shaban 07.29.09 | 2:02 PM ET

Hi!
We are really interested in relocating to LA from PGH. Any chance of being able to rent a lot for a couple months til we get settled? Any specifics about RV’s ect? We would really appreciate a reply.
Thank You!

EileenMac 08.03.09 | 3:59 PM ET

This is a solution to our “houseless” problem in America….IF, cities and counties are willing to come out of their denial.  There are many many parking lots with plenty of space available.  Wouldnt this be a better solution to the lack of housing for the growing number people who are finding themselves without a place to sleep? 

Some cities are starting to explore these options.  Perhaps private companies can look into it too. Most people who have use of an RV or camper either have jobs or are recently used to be in a stable situation.  As with any rental situation, the “campers” can be screened.

Unfortunately, the suburbs are NOT looking at this as a possible solution.  Instead they are expanding their gentrification programs and making it harder and harder for even a “housed” RV owner to keep their RV anywhere but a storage yard. (Where they can NOT sleep in the vehicle.)

Many years ago, the City of Thousand Oaks, where I live, made it a CRIME for the owner or manager of a property to allow ANYONE to sleep in ANY vehicle, even if it was on private property with the permission of the owner…This includes a church parking lot, a driveway, or even an RV spot BEHIND a gate.  Some parts of Thousand Oaks now prohibit even having an RV on your own private property.  So, if a pastor allows someone to sleep in an RV on church property, the PASTOR can be cited and even arrested for allowing this “crime” to be committed.

Last week the City passed an ordinance making it illegal to even park an RV on a public street without a permit overnight.

I believe these type of ordinances are unConstitutional…however, since only the property OWNER is allowed to challenge these laws, no one will do so.

The filmstrip was interesting; however, I would also be interested in hearing the stories of the other 95 parking lot tenants.  How many are there, NOT because they came from another state, but because they live in the LA area and now are “houseless”.

Diana L. Shaban 08.06.09 | 11:18 PM ET

I’m interested in RV living around the LA area. I’ve read parking lot B is only for ailine employees, is this true?
Thanx

fred hoff 09.07.09 | 11:53 AM ET

We come up once a year in a 27’ prowler travel trailer and stay at our sons house but we need to find a place to park the trailer for a month - he lives in Santa Monica so this would be great as it is close.  who would i call to check it out about parking in lot b

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