Friday, March 30, 2012

Upzoning The World

I can't speak for every single spot in the Philly burbs, but I do know of some examples where there is a lovely little train station neighboring a small to medium sized parking lot, in a neighborhood which is somewhat walkable, though with its walkability eroded by decades of parking lot expansion. Occasionally there are proposals to stick up some apartment buildings, or to even add some additional retail and office space, and the neighborhood response is almost always a demand for more parking. Of course if you put in more parking, it makes it more expensive, decreases walkability, and, of course, increases the likelihood that people will drive there.

Even in the urban hellhole demands for more parking greet basically every project.