The Bottom-Up Revolution Bottom-Up Shorts: How To Remove Parking Mandates in Your Downtown
Jan 21, 2025
Michael Bassili, a leader of Strong Towns Nanaimo, discusses his successful campaign to eliminate parking mandates in downtown Nanaimo. He highlights how community-driven efforts can reshape urban spaces to prioritize people over vehicles. The conversation delves into the challenges posed by outdated regulations and their impact on housing costs. Bassili shares innovative outreach strategies, including an AI-driven tool for community engagement, and emphasizes the importance of collective action in fostering sustainable urban development.
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Nanaimo's Parking Reform Victory
- Michael Bassili recounts Nanaimo's city council voting 8 to 1 to remove downtown parking mandates after a community campaign.
- The campaign involved lobbying, stakeholder meetings, and publishing a report advocating for parking reform.
Parking Mandates Inflate Housing Costs
- Parking mandates cause disproportionate costs, forcing developers to include expensive parking.
- These costs restrict housing development and increase housing prices, worsening affordability.
Innovative Community Mobilization
- Use creative strategies like AI-generated email templates to mobilize community support effectively.
- Engage the public with educational events and rewards to raise awareness about parking reform.