Porn shop patrons draw concern from residents

In recent weeks, students living in the neighborhood around 14th Street and College Avenue have noticed a disturbing trend: heavy foot and car traffic at all hours of the night. Frustrated with unidentified parked cars in front of her house on Woodburn Ave., IU sophomore Elizabeth Farrellee decided to investigate since she was new to the neighborhood this fall.\n"I was having a hard time understanding why so many unfamiliar cars were parked in front of my house, so I started paying close attention to who the driver was and the direction they would walk after parking," Farrellee said. "When dozens of people at odd hours kept returning to their cars with black plastic bags, sometimes hours (after) parking, I realized they were porn shop patrons."\nThe College Adult Bookstore & Entertainment Center, 1013 N. College, is open 24 hours a day and caters to the 18-years and older crowd. Surrounded by apartment complexes and houses on the outskirts of a residential neighborhood, the College Adult Bookstore offers customers convenient parking directly in front of their building.\n"Over the last week, I noticed a pair a women's underwear at the corner of (15th Street) and (College Avenue), and a handwritten note on the back of an adult movie box at the bus stop on my way to school," Farrellee said. "I don't know if they have anything to do with the bookstore, but I do feel uncomfortable with people cutting across my backyard to get there after parking in front of my house."\nAll employees of the College Adult Bookstore contacted refused comment on the issue. \nRegardless, not all customers avoid parking in the designated parking lot or the vacant Burger King parking lot across the street.\n"I don't really feel embarrassed about going to buy gag gifts for friends," junior Heather John said. \n"I think about what I want before I go in, I get it, and I get out as quickly as possible to avoid exposing myself to things I might not want to see." \nOther IU students also enjoy the prices, variety and services the College Adult Bookstore provides.\n"My friends and I feel comfortable buying battery operated vibrators there," junior Paige LaCour said. "It looks a lot cleaner, and the parking lot is better lit, than a lot of other places offering similar selections."\nBut Farrellee said she feels the potential negative impact the College Adult Bookstore might be having on the neighborhood could outweigh the benefits of the business if patrons are allowed to park wherever they want in the area.\n"I have no problem with the business or the products they sell," Farrellee said. "I just wish people felt comfortable enough with themselves to park in front of the building. It's unnerving to know the man sitting in his car in front of your house for the last two hours in the dark might have come from the bookstore." \n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu .