The possibility of many more urban dwellers driving than ever before, even in transit-rich locations like New York City, is still very real.

"A Manhattan garage operator is betting that city dwellers in the Covid age are driving more, and would pay a premium for a personal place to put their cars," reports Oshrat Carmiel.
"Centerpark converted an Upper East Side garage into a condominium -- but instead of apartments, it’s selling 23 parking spaces, and hired a luxury real estate broker to market them for sale to the public for as much as $350,000 each."
Kirsten Jordan, the Douglas Elliman Real Estate broker who’s marketing the units, is quoted in the article saying the new, Covid-era twist on adaptive reuse is designed specifically in response to anticipating the needs of New Yorkers with no plans to return to the subway.
The data would seem to support that assumption, according to Carmiel, even after so many months of pandemic living. "As of mid-July, weekday subway ridership had plummeted 54% from the pre-Covid days, according to the Partnership for New York City. The number of city-bound travelers on the suburban commuter rails was down more than half."
The increased demand for parking in New York City has also been evident in the political controversies regarding outdoor dining and bus-only lanes around the city.
FULL STORY: Manhattan’s Newest Covid-Age Real Estate Bet: Condos for Cars

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.

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

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.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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