Parking As A Neighborhood Asset

Why wait for rail when community parking can help create pedestrian-oriented areas, writes Mott Smith.

1 minute read

April 28, 2005, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The solution is not, as many have suggested, to eliminate parking from our playbooks. Most people in the region still drive for most trips. So to create parking-free zones in today’s Los Angeles would be tantamount to creating people-free zones.

Rather, we suggest approaching parking as a neighborhood essential rather than an ad-hoc 'mitigation' for the impact of individual projects. With good urban design and effective zoning mechanisms in place, community parking can be more effective even than a transit station in creating the incentives to develop pedestrian-oriented uses in a neighborhood."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 in The Planning Report

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People sit on wooden benches on a bus in Miami

New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks

Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade residents homeowners $2,700 in 2028.

30 minutes ago - Miami New Times

Two men install solar panels on the roof of a house.

Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms

The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.

1 hour ago - Grist

A close up of an American flag in front of the Capitol building.

Democrats’ victory may threaten act to expedite energy projects

Democrats may decide to vote against the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, and negotiate a more favorable bill once the 120th Congress begins.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.