Denver Could Eliminate Parking Requirements

Following Colorado’s decision to bar parking minimums within a quarter mile of transit stations, Denver officials are considering eliminating parking requirements citywide.

As Asia Mieleszko explains in the Strong Towns blog, “Parking minimums are largely based on flawed assumptions and outdated traffic models, often resembling pseudoscience more than sound policy. For builders and city planners alike, they create unnecessary hurdles, inflating costs and stalling projects that could otherwise bring much-needed housing and economic activity to Denver’s neighborhoods.”

Cities around the country are moving to eliminate parking minimums, which can significantly increase the cost of new housing units and make some development financially infeasible. According to Mieleszko, “By reforming its parking requirements, Denver can lower development costs, make better use of available space, and give builders more flexibility.”