Sometimes, a simple gesture isn’t enough to make a statement.
A tattoo parlor in Colorado has taken an unconventional approach to address frustrations over cars being towed by a neighboring apartment complex. Fallen Heroes Tattoo in Colorado Springs has painted a large mural of male genitalia on its roof.
David Brown, 54, and his team began the mural project in early October after months of dealing with the owners of 532CO, who, according to Brown, have towed numerous vehicles while failing to provide clear parking signage.
“All they ever tell us is ‘That’s our property. Suck it.’ I felt frustrated and unsure how to proceed,” Brown shared. “They aren’t breaking any rules, but it raises the question: why be inconsiderate?”
The dispute centers around an alleyway that separates the two buildings. This alley includes private parking spaces for apartment residents, but the signage indicating this is located across the alley on the apartment building itself.
“For drivers, it appears they can park close to the shop, but the signs are across the alley,” Brown explained.
He estimates that misleading signage has resulted in at least 40 customers having their cars towed in just the past three months, with even more incidents since the apartment complex opened earlier this year, which also obstructed the parlor’s mountain views.
Brown believes a simple “Resident Parking” stencil on the spots could resolve the issue, but attempts to contact management have been unsuccessful.
“Reaching management is impossible. They send you to voicemail, and you never get to speak to anyone,” he noted.
Feeling out of options, Brown and his colleagues brainstormed a plan.
“We joked that maybe the neighborhood actually enjoys the apartment building, which resembles something from Ikea. We thought, ‘Maybe we’re the inconsiderate ones!’ So, we considered what activities people enjoy in the mountains, which we used to view,” he quipped.
The mural depicts playful scenes of male figures engaged in various mountain activities, like skateboarding and skiing.
While the management company of the apartment has yet to respond to the mural, many residents have expressed their disapproval.
“Residents are not pleased. One even called it disgusting,” Brown reported, adding that they’ve received online reviews labeling them as “lawless animals.”
“We’re actually considering making T-shirts in response to that review,” he added.
Brown hopes to remove the mural soon, ideally after the apartment management addresses the parking signage issue.
“I won’t keep that mural up any longer than necessary. I don’t want it to become a permanent fixture,” Brown stated.
The apartment’s management has not responded to requests for comment.
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