The parking minimums lead to big lots. And not just outside of downtown areas. Structures are more expensive to build per parking space, unless land value is crazy high. So when a developer is required to build a certain number of spots, they’ll buy the land they need to build the lot with the least amount spent upfront and on maintenance.
The real reason? Bad, old parking regulations: https://youtu.be/OUNXFHpUhu8?si=sv3Rdh15Q0k5UHKU
No really. It’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever learned about my country.
That talks about parking minimums. It doesn’t discuss surface lots vs parking structures, which is what the post is talking about.
(We call them parkades in Canada, it’s a good name which y’all should use.)
The parking minimums lead to big lots. And not just outside of downtown areas. Structures are more expensive to build per parking space, unless land value is crazy high. So when a developer is required to build a certain number of spots, they’ll buy the land they need to build the lot with the least amount spent upfront and on maintenance.