5 ms·

I actually like the idea of parking minimums. But two parking spaces for a 2 bedroom apartment? Or a 1.5 for a one bedroom? That seems crazy. I know there are

I actually like the idea of parking minimums. But two parking spaces for a 2 bedroom apartment? Or a 1.5 for a one bedroom? That seems crazy. I know there are exceptions (maybe someone running a business) but in general anyone living in the city shouldn't require more than one car per household.

StavrosK 7y ago
As someone currently living in a comfortable 900 sqft 2-bedroom apartment, that's not crazy at all. I guess Americans are just used to huge homes.
- currymj 7y ago
  that statistic, unlike some of the others, isn't a space comparison between parking spots and apartment square footage. it is instead a legal requirement. if somebody wants to build a building with 25 2-bedroom apartments, they have to also ensure 50 new parking spaces get built.
  - StavrosK 7y ago
    That's what's crazy. It's assuming everyone has two cars and none of them are ever in the street.
    - ajmurmann 7y ago
      > none of them are ever in the street. I think that's the goal. Others who already love in the area otherwise would protest the construction because their precious street parking would have more competition. We should just take all the candy away from the kids and ban most street parking like in Japan. But the US loves their cars do that's never gonna happen.
      - StavrosK 7y ago
        Sorry, I meant "on the street", as in "being driven".
    - lazyjones 7y ago
      > That's what's crazy. It's assuming everyone has two cars and none of them are ever in the street. Erm, no. It assumes that at some point the 2 bedrooms will actually be occupied, hence 3+ people will live in the apartment. 2 cars for 3 people isn't "crazy"...
kalleboo 7y ago
I don't understand why parking shouldn't also be left up to the market to decide? If you want a parking spot, pay the fair market price. I live in Japan where minimum parking is not regulated and it means that people who don't need parking pay less rent. How is that not a good thing?
- ajmurmann 7y ago
  The problem is that we see parking as a negative externality because everyone ends up competing for street parking. As you pointed out, it's not a problem in Japan. I believe that is because there is pretty much no street parking in Japan. I love that! I think the Crux of the problem is that most US cities are built with super low density, targeting cars. The result is that it's super hard to put public transit in that is actually useful.
  - TheCoelacanth 7y ago
    That's easy to solve. Just charge the market rate for street parking too. No reason to give away the use of valuable land for free.
    - ajmurmann 7y ago
      I think that's a great solution, but not easy to implement. How do you establish the market rate? Is it the highest price that will still lead to all parking being filled? If so, how do you talk that price? Or more complicated: how do you account for the price / value associated with other forms of issue that are more unavailable? For example: what rent could be collected if the parking spot was outdoor seating for a cafe? What price would a developer pay to build more housing units? What m value is lost for society by not having a strip of green?
- sp332 7y ago
  It's because landlords have more power than renters. So if I as a renter need a car to get to work, but my landlord decided not to build parking, now I have to also rent a parking space. And if parking is not required to be built, it will probably be in short supply and now I'm either paying a huge amount for parking or I just can't park.
lazyjones 7y ago
> two parking spaces for a 2 bedroom apartment? Or a 1.5 for a one bedroom? That seems crazy. 2 bedrooms typically means 3+ people, all of whom might be driving, 2 would probably be driving to work.

StavrosK 7y ago

As someone currently living in a comfortable 900 sqft 2-bedroom apartment, that's not crazy at all. I guess Americans are just used to huge homes.

currymj 7y ago
that statistic, unlike some of the others, isn't a space comparison between parking spots and apartment square footage. it is instead a legal requirement. if somebody wants to build a building with 25 2-bedroom apartments, they have to also ensure 50 new parking spaces get built.
- StavrosK 7y ago
  That's what's crazy. It's assuming everyone has two cars and none of them are ever in the street.
  - ajmurmann 7y ago
    > none of them are ever in the street. I think that's the goal. Others who already love in the area otherwise would protest the construction because their precious street parking would have more competition. We should just take all the candy away from the kids and ban most street parking like in Japan. But the US loves their cars do that's never gonna happen.
    - StavrosK 7y ago
      Sorry, I meant "on the street", as in "being driven".
  - lazyjones 7y ago
    > That's what's crazy. It's assuming everyone has two cars and none of them are ever in the street. Erm, no. It assumes that at some point the 2 bedrooms will actually be occupied, hence 3+ people will live in the apartment. 2 cars for 3 people isn't "crazy"...

kalleboo 7y ago

I don't understand why parking shouldn't also be left up to the market to decide? If you want a parking spot, pay the fair market price. I live in Japan where minimum parking is not regulated and it means that people who don't need parking pay less rent. How is that not a good thing?

ajmurmann 7y ago
The problem is that we see parking as a negative externality because everyone ends up competing for street parking. As you pointed out, it's not a problem in Japan. I believe that is because there is pretty much no street parking in Japan. I love that! I think the Crux of the problem is that most US cities are built with super low density, targeting cars. The result is that it's super hard to put public transit in that is actually useful.
- TheCoelacanth 7y ago
  That's easy to solve. Just charge the market rate for street parking too. No reason to give away the use of valuable land for free.
  - ajmurmann 7y ago
    I think that's a great solution, but not easy to implement. How do you establish the market rate? Is it the highest price that will still lead to all parking being filled? If so, how do you talk that price? Or more complicated: how do you account for the price / value associated with other forms of issue that are more unavailable? For example: what rent could be collected if the parking spot was outdoor seating for a cafe? What price would a developer pay to build more housing units? What m value is lost for society by not having a strip of green?
sp332 7y ago
It's because landlords have more power than renters. So if I as a renter need a car to get to work, but my landlord decided not to build parking, now I have to also rent a parking space. And if parking is not required to be built, it will probably be in short supply and now I'm either paying a huge amount for parking or I just can't park.

lazyjones 7y ago

> two parking spaces for a 2 bedroom apartment? Or a 1.5 for a one bedroom? That seems crazy. 2 bedrooms typically means 3+ people, all of whom might be driving, 2 would probably be driving to work.