Parking Requirements and Housing Prices: More Questions Than Answers in Portland

Michael Andersen reports on cause and effect in Portland, in a discussion about the effect of parking requirements implemented in 2013. Andersen cites the work of Portland affordability advocate Brian Cefola, who has collected data showing that housing prices fell between 2011 and 2013, while the city was allowing the construction of apartments without parking garages on-site. In fact, "during the 2011-2013 no-parking boom, the average new Portland apartment cost 17 percent less to build than would have been 'expected.' Then it returned to normal," according to Andersen, when the city implemented new parking requirements in 2013.

The problem, Andersen also checked with experts like Joe Cortright of City Observatory and found that the data provides only circumstantial evidence. Cefola doesn't disagree with that assessment, according to the article, but he does insist that circumstantial evidence is "enough reason for professionals at the city to dig deeper."

These questions are especially relevant in light of ongoing consideration of legislation that would expand parking requirements in Northwest Portland. Rachel Monahan provides coverage of that issue for the Willamette Week.