Are the urban revival and the future of mobility already rendering parking lots obsolete? Chicago provides a case study of a new generation of skyscrapers rising were cars once parked.

"Years into a residential construction boom downtown, and amid broader adoption of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft, real estate developers are gobbling up surface lots they can cover with high-rises," reports Ryan Ori from Chicago.
Ori shares a list of anecdotal evidence that the practice of developing new uses on former surface parking lots is expanding along with Chicago downtown's urban revival. In Chicago, some of the splashiest development projects in the city will break ground on former surface parking lots. "The lowly surface lot will play a role in reshaping Chicago’s skyline, with plans for two of the city’s tallest buildings in the works on parcels now used for parking," adds Ori.
Ori speaks with developers who say that the rising cost of land in downtown is applying pressure on surface parking lots from one side. Another factor is decreasing revenue at parking lots—as much as 30 percent at some lots. According to a report by Green Street Advisors cited in the article, "U.S. parking needs will be cut in half during the next three decades…"
If one were looking for other signs that perhaps recent changes in mobility were reducing demand for parking in urban areas, see also the list of cities reducing curbside parking to make room for other purposes, such as pick-up and drop-off for ride-hailing companies, and an emerging industry of technology meant to take advantage of the evolution in mobility.
FULL STORY: Parking lots disappearing in ride-sharing era as downtown construction booms

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)