What if there were a way for Boston residents to save shoveled-out parking spaces after snowstorms without plopping old televisions, ironing boards, , and vacuums on the street?
City Councilor Timothy McCarthy thinks it’s worth discussing. During a hearing Monday about the city’s snow removal efforts, McCarthy floated the idea of creating city-owned space savers — either to give away or sell — as an alternative to the space savers.s
“Every idea should be on the table for discussion to help Boston have an easier winter, in case it’s as bad as the one we just had,” said McCarthy, whose district covers Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roslindale.
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In an interview, McCarthy stressed the need for extensive discussions with agencies like the Department of Public Works before he moves forward. “We are going to do a little research first,” he said. “But I think it’s worth a deep discussion, and it’s certainly a better option than using paint cans, end tables, and Archie Bunker chairs out in the street.”
Some questions still need to be answered, he said, like whether the space savers would be a viable source of revenue, or whether residents would get a space saver when they purchase a parking pass.
McCarthy put the idea in the heads of councilors Monday after he received a call from a constituent.
“It was an interesting point, and I told the gentleman, ‘You know what? I’m going to bring it up,’ ” McCarthy said. “Of course, some ideas people are going to say, ‘You’re crazy.’ And others will say, ‘Let’s see what we can do with that.’ ”
Space savers in Boston got an extended shelf life this winter as consecutive snowstorms dumped record-breaking piles of snow on the city.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s office allowed space savers to remain on the streets well past the unwritten 48-hour rule.
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Even after crews started collecting space savers at the mayor’s request, many reappeared.
Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.