A new map highlights prime downtown real estate that could be repurposed for more productive uses.

According to an article by Taylor Anderson in Building Salt Lake, almost a third of the Utah capital’s downtown is taken up by parking despite 2021 parking reforms that reduced the number of required parking spots for downtown developments.
“Researchers with the Parking Reform Network studied the area spanning roughly between North Temple and 900 South, 200 East to 500 West and found that 29 percent of the land is dedicated to parking,” Anderson explains.
“The city itself often appears to acknowledge car dominance, approving a nearly 1,000-car parking garage in the Granary District and undertaking several angled parking projects in lieu of cycle tracks, expanded sidewalks or other improvements that would encourage and promote walking and commuting by bike.”
Yet the land, PRN argues, could be more productively used for “parks, retail, housing, universities, daycares, bars, restaurants, churches, offices, assisted living facilities, hospitals, group homes, art galleries, museums, or a combination of it all.”
FULL STORY: Here’s how much of Downtown Salt Lake City is covered in car parking

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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