Parking Vs. Healthy Food

Cities are trying new ways to encourage supermarket construction in underserved neighborhoods by relaxing zoning requirements for parking spaces, says Sarah Goodyear.

"The New York Times mentioned that one of the strategies New York City is using to attract more supermarkets into food deserts is to change the city's zoning laws that would "free smaller supermarkets from having to supply parking spaces." Reducing or eliminating parking minimums for new development is good urbanism. But if it can help provide affordable, accessible, and nutritious food to low-income residents of the District -- which is already a District goal -- the planning commission has one more very good reason to wean us off of cars."