Reducing Onerous Parking Standards Key to Urban Intensification

Interviewing Toronto architect David Oleson and city councillor Joe Pantalone, Christopher Hume argues that local by-laws should be amended to require fewer parking spaces for smaller-scale developments where underground garages would not be feasible. This is particularly important if the City intends to achieve its policy goals for main-street housing, he says. Hume argues that public transit infrastructure in many areas is currently underutilized and can handle the increase in residential population, thereby providing housing opportunities for people who consciously choose not to drive cars. He also suggests that Toronto look to creative solutions employed in other cities such as on-site automobile sharing in Vancouver and stacked parking in New York City. Unfortunately, the issue is not currently on the political radar given the myriad of other challenges the city is facing, he concludes.