A recently adopted ordinance allows developers to build significantly fewer parking spaces for projects in proximity to transit stations. Developers have already responded to the advantages offered by the reduced requirements.
According to Chris Bentley of Architect's Newspaper, an ordinance passed last fall in Chicago allows any residential developments within 600 feet of a transit station (or 1,200 on certain "Pedestrian Streets") to slash its parking requirements by 50 percent.
The first project taking advantage of this broke ground in July. As Bentley writes, "[t]he building will have 40 apartments... 2,500 square feet of commercial space, and 21 parking spaces—roughly half the amount of parking it would have been required to supply otherwise. 'Not having to put all these cars in there,' said firm principal David Brininstool, 'this is such a win-win for the city, the streetscape, and the developer.'"
Many other developers around the city have also taken advantage of the ordinance. One company, Wicker Park Apartments, "secured 16 percent more space by cutting parking—square footage that Brininstool said was a boon to the design team as they tried to shoehorn 40 apartments and commercial space into a triangular site with just 33 feet of street frontage. The angular site plan would have hamstrung the development’s density, which now boasts a 3.5 FAR at five stories tall."
FULL STORY: Take the Train
Residence in Chicago's TODs Come With a Major Caveat: No Parking Permits
One big idea behind transit oriented residential developments is that residents will be liberated from their cars. New developments in Chicago are making sure residents won't be parking on streets to get the best of both worlds.
Answers to 12 Questions About California Assembly Bill 1401
Assembly Bill 1401, one of the most closely-watched land use bills in the California State legislature this year, would remove parking requirements in "High Quality Transit Areas" statewide.
Priority on Equity Gives Hope for Chicago's Transit-Oriented Development Plans
The city of Chicago's Equitable Transit Oriented Development Policy Plan prioritizes three key strategies for bringing equity to transit-oriented development.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
San Francisco Slow Streets Bucks Citywide Trend, Reducing Injuries by 61 Percent
Low-cost interventions aimed at slowing traffic are making a major impact on road safety.
How Single-Family Conversions Benefit Both Homeowners and Cities
Converting single-family homes to triplexes can ease the housing crisis and offer affordable, flexible options for more households. Why is it largely illegal?
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research