I'm enough of an economist to be ok with developers providing parking that people actually pay for (there are still externalities which are underconsidered, but in the vast scheme of things I'm not going to cry about the voluntary provision of such things), but it is a tremendous mystery to me why neighbors prefer new rowhouse construction with garage parking to the alternative. A curbcut rowhouse garage takes away a public parking spot in order to create a private one. This is not a benefit to existing residents.
Yes, yes, I know my parking posts are boring. The thing is that I'm actually relatively sympathetic (for a car hater) to neighborhood concerns about parking. It's just that this is one area I've seen them get it totally wrong. Demanding parking is one thing (also wrong, but less wrong), but preferring front facing public parking stealing garages is totally wrong.
More than that, you don't have a right to a view over vacant lots.
