Condos Without Parking?

As many of you know, the issue of parking in downtown Tacoma has many sides and many facets.  It’s one of the issues that stymies the city, confuses potential businesses, and irritates our pioneering downtown residents.  So what if new condos didn’t include parking?  The New York Times had a piece a few weeks ago that looked at ‘smart growth’ aware projects in Portland and Seattle that include units without parking. 

Although condominiums without parking are common in Manhattan and the downtowns of a few other East Coast cities, they are the exception to the rule in most of the country. In fact, almost all local governments require developers to provide a minimum number of parking spaces for each unit — and to fold the cost of the space into the housing price.

The exact regulations, which are intended to prevent clogged streets and provide sufficient parking, vary by city. Houston’s code requires a minimum of 1.33 parking spaces for a one-bedroom and 2 spaces for a three-bedroom. Downtown Los Angeles mandates 2.25 parking spaces per unit, regardless of size.

Today, city planners around the country are trying to change or eliminate these standards, opting to promote mass transit and find a way to lower housing costs.

Can we plan for a future in which parking isn’t a absolute necessity?  The Monday morning meeting – the one that started the Winthrop as hotel discussions again –  seems to be focusing on downtown transportation as its next issue.  Our City Manager, Eric Anderson, is performing a pretty convincing song and dance linking potential federal funds to downtown development and trolley cars.  There are a few rumors circulating about more commercial development in town that could help attract jobs.  So maybe as we look to mass transit in our town as the next big downtown development, we could consider a future that doesn’t necessarily require a car for every resident and worker.  Maybe.

Link to The New York Times