Jerry Seinfeld Solves Parking Problem

By Stephen M. Silverman

03/06/2002 at 01:00 PM EST

The situation sounds like something out of, well, "Seinfeld." It seems that the man himself, Jerry Seinfeld, has a parking problem, according to The New York Observer. Specifically, parking his collection of vintage Porsches. (To be clear, parking an old Pinto in Manhattan is no easy matter.) But to alleviate his particular problem, Jer, 47, is building his own parking garage, with 20 spaces for himself, on West 83rd Street, reports the weekly paper. Estimated cost: $1.39 million. Two years in the making (so far), and a scant three blocks from Seinfeld's $4.35 million duplex, the garage is currently under construction and a source of no small amount of aggravation to those in adjoining buildings on the busy block, says The Observer. A neighboring architectural firm and yoga studio have shuttered for the time being, says the paper, which was told by the companies that Seinfeld has offered to pay a week's salary to their staffs. The former TV star also reportedly was making peace offerings as early as spring 2000, when he began sending cases of wine to those on the block prior to the transformation of a two-story former plumbing business into the parking structure. Seinfeld is said to be traveling this week and not available for comment, but people are talking about his car collection. He began picking up Porsches in 1993, just as his show was hitting it big, says The Observer. According to an auction house executive who has sold cars to Seinfeld, the star is partial to the Speedster, a favorite among tough guys, The Observer reports.