Minimum Parking Requirements

30-Story Mixed-Use Tower Planned for Downtown Austin—Without Parking

Thanks to the elimination of minimum parking requirements downtown, a vacant one-story building "could be transformed into a 30-story tower with 135 luxury apartments, office space, a restaurant and a bar," reports the Austin-American Statesman.

April 18, 2016 - Austin American-Statesman

California House

Affordable Housing Becomes More Affordable in California Due to Parking Reform

AB 744, a bill which requires no more than one parking space be provided for every two units of affordable and senior housing proximate to transit, was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Oct. 9.

October 14, 2015 - Smart Growth America

Detaching the Family Car from Single-Family Housing

As parking reform takes to multi-family housing, the detached single family home has largely escaped discussion. Should it? Seattle (of course) is taking the lead. Also, is all of Minneapolis ready to eliminate parking minimums along transit lines?

July 14, 2015 - Streetsblog Network

Minneapolis Green Line University of Minnesota

Minneapolis Ordinance Would Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit

Imagine the kind of infill housing developments that could follow if Minneapolis approves a proposed ordinance to reduce and eliminate parking requirements for transit-adjacent developments all over the city.

June 11, 2015 - Streets MN

Seattle Mixed Use Development

Seattle Densification Strategy: Build Apartments Without Parking

Not just any apartments, only those served by frequent transit. Developers will still have a "mobility" requirement: In lieu of a parking space, they'll need to provide tenants with transit passes and memberships in car and bikeshare services.

May 11, 2015 - KIRA 7

San Francisco Parking

San Francisco Approves 'Parking Flexibility Ordinance'

A newly approved ordinance in San Francisco will allow new flexibility for the city parking regulations, relaxing parking restrictions in multiple situations that apply all over the city.

April 29, 2015 - SF.Streetsblog

Empty Parking Garage

A Parking Paradox

Minimum parking requirements affect developer behavior most where they are most controversial: in downtown neighborhoods. In suburbs where they may just mimic the market, the arguments for such rules are paradoxically even weaker.

June 16, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

This image displays six different types of parking typologies

How Parking Rules Raise Rents

Alan Durning details the negative effects that parking requirements have on housing affordability.

September 4, 2013 - Sightline Institute

How Flexible Parking Requirements Spur Economic Development

A UCLA master's student and Don Shoup found that Santa Monica, CA's flexible parking requirements have led to significant fiscal and urban form benefits. A sample of parcels showed eight-times more sales tax revenue per sq. ft. than a control group.

July 24, 2013 - Streetsblog L.A.

Empty Parking Lot

From Peak Car to Peak Parking?

Fewer cars on the road, less driving, why not fewer parking spots? Cities like D.C., L.A., Denver, Philadelphia are responding by reducing or eliminating parking minimums, while Portland, which had already eliminated them, are bringing them back.

July 10, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

D.C. Updates its Zoning Code to the Delight of Some, and Horror of Others

Washington D.C. is embarking on the first update to its zoning code since 1958. In advance of consideration by the city's Zoning Commission next spring, controversy has erupted around - you guessed it - parking!

December 3, 2012 - The Washington Post

Shoup To APA: Let Planners Lead on Parking Requirements

Donald Shoup explains his disappointment with the American Planning Association's opposition to California legislation (AB 904), that would cap minimum parking requirements.

October 8, 2012 - International Transportation Economics Association

Parking Garages Built to Zoning, Are Half Empty

In a popular new development in Brooklyn built near transit, 50% of parking spaces are going unused. Why are parking requirements so overspec'ed?, asks Jeremy Smerd.

October 4, 2011 - Crain's

California Considers Full-Cost Parking Bill

Having stalled in the state Senate last June, a bill that aims to "reduc(e) governmental or government-required subsidies for parking" passed out of the senate on Jan. 28. Parking strategies would be eligible for cap & trade credits under the bill.

January 30, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

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