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American Morning

Jerry Seinfeld Buys Own Garage

Aired March 08, 2002 - 07:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Cunning tactics and strategy, no we are not talking about the war zone. We are talking about finding a parking space in this god-forsaken city, New York. to get a space near your home, you either need a lot of luck or the kind of money that would be the rent for an apartment in many other cities. Then again you could just build your own garage if you're a millionaire like comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

Jason Carroll tells that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My car.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jerry Seinfeld has gotten plenty of laughs over the years poking fun at New York's parking problems.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me, are you getting out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

CARROLL: It's a city where tickets on windshields are as common as wipers and drivers who spend their day squeaking into spots ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a hassle. It's very hard.

CARROLL: ... start seeing red when you ask them about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's horrendous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sucks. It sucks.

CARROLL: Well that's one way of putting it.

So what's a man to do if he owns a collection of expensive cars and needs space to put them? Builds his own parking garage - sounds like a storyline for a show, but it's reality for Seinfeld and those living on this upper west side street.

DENNIS KARAULOVSKY, NEIGHBOR: They're banging on the walls or making a lot of noise. That's one of the problems.

CARROLL: This is where Seinfeld is spending more than $1 million to build a 20-space three-story parking garage, complete with a kitchen, elevator, and toroso (ph) floors. Funny? Not to those putting up with all the noise and not even a little wine, compliments of Jerry, are keeping his neighbors quiet.

MATTHEW STOCK, NEIGHBOR: In the very beginning, we got a case of wine, and it wasn't very good wine.

CARROLL: This is, after all, New York. Neighbors say they can deal with some noise, but for how long? Seinfeld's project has already taken two years, too long for practiced yoga located next door. It isn't practicing much these days. Most classes are canceled due to the construction.

Hey there. The workers won't say or don't know when the job will be done and Seinfeld, who by the way, lives two blocks from the garage, isn't talking. But maybe he'll take some advice from one of his garage neighbors, who also happens to be an environmental consultant.

STOCK: I'd just hurry up and finish the project.

CARROLL: Or try sending a better bottle of wine.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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