I am a senior citizen living at the Esplanade next to the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. I understand the hotel brings in tourists and money to the area, but I believe more thought should have been put into the hotel’s location and parking situation.

When the hotel has a morning function, the two-hour parking area in front of the Esplanade fills up. If a resident has anyone coming to visit, or health personnel, they have no place to park. The same thing in the evening hours.

The hotel guests get a pass that allows them to park as long as they want in front of the Esplanade, regardless of posted time limits. They have even parked in the spaces marked as reserved for Esplanade residents.

Guests visiting residents have to park over by the railroad tracks. Residents aren’t allowed to get a parking permit for out-of-town guests. This is just not right.

It is a beautiful spot for the hotel, but the city of Auburn did not take into account the parking spaces the hotel users would need. Now the hotel is adding even more rooms, and I have heard talk about there being a parking garage for the hotel. Won’t that cause more problems for Esplanade residents? I’m concerned about the increase in traffic and gas fumes in the Esplanade area.

This used to be a nice, quiet place to live, but the city of Auburn spoiled that with lack of planning.

Gilda Berube, Auburn