An architect makes the case for future-proofing new parking garages so they can easily shift to other uses in a future with fewer cars.

Megan Ridgeway's hunch is that "our cultural shift to ride sharing, autonomous vehicles, and alternative transportation will result in a permanent paradigm shift in urban planning." Whether that means fewer cars on the road is hard to say, but if driving does decline, what will become of America's half-billion parking spaces?
Parking garages, Ridgeway argues, should be "future-proofed" upon construction. If and when a carless future arrives, they'll be easy to convert to alternative uses, including housing. "Specifically, the most important design strategies for such structures are flat plates and adequate space between floors. Adaptive reuse requires a level base rather than the steep slopes that many garages have, so designing flat floors on every level is critical."
In this case, future-proofing shouldn't be too onerous an expense: "the up-front cost is virtually the same as traditional parking garages because they aren't as expensive to build as an actual office or apartment building." The real question is whether individual municipalities will help or hinder their implementation.
Ridgeway cites Denver as one place where developers are pioneering future-proof parking, specifically at the city's World Trade Center.
FULL STORY: Design parking garages so they can easily become housing

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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