Comments on: The Parking Cure, Step 1: Diagnose the Problem http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: J http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55663 J Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:14:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55663 If San Francisco must do an environmental impact statement before building new bike lanes, NYC should be required to do an environmental impact statement before building, requiring, or allowing new parking facilities. There should be a moratorium on all construction of additional parking facilities until the review is completed. Inaction by the planning department is implicit approval of the status quo. If San Francisco must do an environmental impact statement before building new bike lanes, NYC should be required to do an environmental impact statement before building, requiring, or allowing new parking facilities. There should be a moratorium on all construction of additional parking facilities until the review is completed. Inaction by the planning department is implicit approval of the status quo.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55456 Cap'n Transit Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:40:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55456 FPT, I disagree. Transit is only one component of <a href="http://capntransit.blogspot.com/2008/02/land-use-transportation-cycle.html" rel="nofollow">the cycle</a>. FPT, I disagree. Transit is only one component of the cycle.

]]> By: da http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55452 da Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:00:15 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55452 The rear gardens of many city blocks are a kind of leafy, car-free oasis. Collectively they are called the "donut hole" of each block and residents get mighty incensed when, say, someone on the block builds a massive rear extension that cuts the light and air of the neighboring houses. In short the donut hole is a wonderful urban amenity worthy of protection. In developments like the one above, the street has actually punched through the building wall and invaded the "donut hole" on the block, bringing cars into a formerly car-free space. I would say that rear parking lots are just as detrimental to neighboring properties as large rear extensions. The rear gardens of many city blocks are a kind of leafy, car-free oasis. Collectively they are called the "donut hole" of each block and residents get mighty incensed when, say, someone on the block builds a massive rear extension that cuts the light and air of the neighboring houses. In short the donut hole is a wonderful urban amenity worthy of protection.

In developments like the one above, the street has actually punched through the building wall and invaded the "donut hole" on the block, bringing cars into a formerly car-free space. I would say that rear parking lots are just as detrimental to neighboring properties as large rear extensions.

]]> By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55451 fpteditors Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:55:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55451 You can't beat the auto and sprawl in the zoning meeting. It has to be a national campaign. When the hobble of fares is removed from our public investment in public transportation, then business and the public will have the burden of congestion lifted from their shoulders. And there is a nice side benefit, the biosphere might be saved from destruction. You can't beat the auto and sprawl in the zoning meeting. It has to be a national campaign. When the hobble of fares is removed from our public investment in public transportation, then business and the public will have the burden of congestion lifted from their shoulders. And there is a nice side benefit, the biosphere might be saved from destruction.

]]> By: John Kaehny http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55450 John Kaehny Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:38:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55450 It is surely right that there are problems with both what parking is permitted (legally and illegally) and what is required. Donald Shoup recommends as a first step turning minimum parking requirements into maximum parking requirements. That's what we have in Manhattan South of 110th or 96th Street and in parts of Long Island City. Anti-development fights have revealed that developers in every borough would like to build apartments without parking. They should be allowed to. For profit and affordable housing builders, like at Silverleaf, should not have to waste time and expense getting waivers to avoid building parking. Incidentally, the examples of good and bad off-street parking posted here are very helpful. Please keep sending them in, along with any links or press reports about off-street parking controversies in your neighborhoods. It is surely right that there are problems with both what parking is permitted (legally and illegally) and what is required. Donald Shoup recommends as a first step turning minimum parking requirements into maximum parking requirements. That's what we have in Manhattan South of 110th or 96th Street and in parts of Long Island City. Anti-development fights have revealed that developers in every borough would like to build apartments without parking. They should be allowed to. For profit and affordable housing builders, like at Silverleaf, should not have to waste time and expense getting waivers to avoid building parking. Incidentally, the examples of good and bad off-street parking posted here are very helpful. Please keep sending them in, along with any links or press reports about off-street parking controversies in your neighborhoods.

]]> By: vnm http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55448 vnm Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:14:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55448 For a great case study on this topic, check out <a href="http://360designed.com/Silverleaf.aspx" rel="nofollow">Silverleaf Hall</a>, built in 2005-2006 by <a href="http://www.lanterngroup.org/silverleaf.html" rel="nofollow">the Lantern Group</a> with <a href="http://www.nychdc.com/PressRoom/pr_boardmeeting_6.11.04.html" rel="nofollow">city funding</a> at Bathgate Avenue and 176th Street in the Bronx. This developer understands that what the Bronx needs desperately is more affordable housing and what it does not need is more auto exhaust, traffic and fatalities. By arguing that the site is transit-oriented (it's near the Tremont Avenue crosstown buses and the Tremont Metro-North station), and amply-supplied with off-street parking at nearby lots, they applied for and received a waiver allowing them to not have to waste money building parking on site. Because of this decision, they were able to save on their bottom line and use the space to build that many more affordable apartments. Plus, they actually invested in high quality architecture for a new building for once. For a great case study on this topic, check out Silverleaf Hall, built in 2005-2006 by the Lantern Group with city funding at Bathgate Avenue and 176th Street in the Bronx. This developer understands that what the Bronx needs desperately is more affordable housing and what it does not need is more auto exhaust, traffic and fatalities. By arguing that the site is transit-oriented (it's near the Tremont Avenue crosstown buses and the Tremont Metro-North station), and amply-supplied with off-street parking at nearby lots, they applied for and received a waiver allowing them to not have to waste money building parking on site. Because of this decision, they were able to save on their bottom line and use the space to build that many more affordable apartments. Plus, they actually invested in high quality architecture for a new building for once.

]]> By: Susan Donovan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55447 Susan Donovan Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:12:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55447 What are the types of off-street parking that would be in such an inventory? * pay parking lots and garages * exclusive lots and garages (for residential buildings and business) * Car pads, home garages (?) * lots for schools, stations and municipal buildings... * Anything else? What kind of laws are on the books now-- if I build an apartment building will I be forced to build parking in some parts of the city? (I know some suburbs have those laws, but do we have them in NYC too? Can we get rid of them?) What are the types of off-street parking that would be in such an inventory?

* pay parking lots and garages
* exclusive lots and garages (for residential buildings and business)
* Car pads, home garages (?)
* lots for schools, stations and municipal buildings...
* Anything else?

What kind of laws are on the books now-- if I build an apartment building will I be forced to build parking in some parts of the city? (I know some suburbs have those laws, but do we have them in NYC too? Can we get rid of them?)

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55445 Larry Littlefield Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:52:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55445 Which of course makes an interesting "strange bedfellows" point. If anyone is living the way aficiandos of the "urban neighborhood" lifestyle rather than the "suburban" lifestyle say everyone should, is it not the Hasidm? Perhaps some Streetsbloggers should talk to the people there and the builders of those buildings as to why they build with little if any parking, and how they live without it. And then talk to the builders of buildings on 4th Avenue and ask why they provided (expensive) parking if they could have easily avoided it, and with the yuppie residents of those buildings on whether they need it and why. I'd be interested in the answers. Which of course makes an interesting "strange bedfellows" point. If anyone is living the way aficiandos of the "urban neighborhood" lifestyle rather than the "suburban" lifestyle say everyone should, is it not the Hasidm?

Perhaps some Streetsbloggers should talk to the people there and the builders of those buildings as to why they build with little if any parking, and how they live without it.

And then talk to the builders of buildings on 4th Avenue and ask why they provided (expensive) parking if they could have easily avoided it, and with the yuppie residents of those buildings on whether they need it and why.

I'd be interested in the answers.

]]> By: Urbanis http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55444 Urbanis Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:51:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55444 In my trips around New York recently on foot and by bicycle (including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx), I've been struck by just how severely automobile infrastructure has blighted our urban environments. The degradation is both micro and macro: curb cuts, front-yard parking, drive-throughs, buildings surrounded by oceans of parking lots, gas stations, ultra-wide roads, expressways, the roaring traffic. (How quiet, by contrast, it was on Park Avenue during Summer Streets!) This one human was overwhelmed by the vastness and desolation of the concrete, the asphalt, the trash and broken glass, the heat, the forlorn patch of grass or shrub struggling for survival in a denuded environment. When it all becomes a drive-through world, is there anything left worth stopping for? In my trips around New York recently on foot and by bicycle (including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx), I've been struck by just how severely automobile infrastructure has blighted our urban environments. The degradation is both micro and macro: curb cuts, front-yard parking, drive-throughs, buildings surrounded by oceans of parking lots, gas stations, ultra-wide roads, expressways, the roaring traffic. (How quiet, by contrast, it was on Park Avenue during Summer Streets!) This one human was overwhelmed by the vastness and desolation of the concrete, the asphalt, the trash and broken glass, the heat, the forlorn patch of grass or shrub struggling for survival in a denuded environment. When it all becomes a drive-through world, is there anything left worth stopping for?

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/22/the-parking-cure-step-1-diagnose-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-55443 Larry Littlefield Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:45:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4429#comment-55443 Well, at least that development put the parking where the ZR intended -- in the rear, accessed by a single curb cut, instead of in the front yard. I continue to point out that your issue is with what people are permitted to do, not with what they are required to do, even though the facts would get in the way of a good story. I took a detour on a ride home through Williamsburg yesterday, down Lee Avenue and Nostrand (I assume a ride up Bedford Avenue would be similar). You should try it sometime. That would tell you what is "required," as opposed to what people are "permitted" to do if they want to. I suspect an inventory of actually required parking would generate a huge wave of opposition to the waivers. You might be better of saying that twisting the ZR arond and relying on non-enforcement ("accessory" parking rented out to non-residents, one parking facility subdivided into multiple facilties), that permitted parking is in reality unlimited. Well, at least that development put the parking where the ZR intended -- in the rear, accessed by a single curb cut, instead of in the front yard.

I continue to point out that your issue is with what people are permitted to do, not with what they are required to do, even though the facts would get in the way of a good story. I took a detour on a ride home through Williamsburg yesterday, down Lee Avenue and Nostrand (I assume a ride up Bedford Avenue would be similar). You should try it sometime. That would tell you what is "required," as opposed to what people are "permitted" to do if they want to.

I suspect an inventory of actually required parking would generate a huge wave of opposition to the waivers. You might be better of saying that twisting the ZR arond and relying on non-enforcement ("accessory" parking rented out to non-residents, one parking facility subdivided into multiple facilties), that permitted parking is in reality unlimited.

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