99% Invisible
Paved Paradise
May 17, 2023
Henry Grabar, author of "Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World", reveals the tangled web of parking policies and urban planning impacting cities, especially Los Angeles. He discusses how car-centric design hampers affordable housing and how parking minimums have fueled a housing crisis. The conversation also dives into the effects of an infamous parking meter deal in Chicago and the challenges cities face in balancing parking and housing. Grabar's insights blend humor with critical observations of America's parking crisis, making urban planning surprisingly engaging.
26:48
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Quick takeaways
- Parking minimum laws in Los Angeles have hindered the construction of affordable housing and resulted in the dominance of commercial strip malls.
- Parking minimums have limited the conversion of old buildings and hindered the revitalization of neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Deep dives
The Impact of Parking on American Cities
Parking regulations have had far-reaching consequences in shaping American cities, particularly in Los Angeles. The city's obsession with cars and parking has led to an abundance of parking spaces – up to eight per car – yet parking remains a constant source of conflict and fights. The focus on parking minimums for new residential buildings has hindered the construction of new affordable housing and limited the renovation of old buildings, resulting in commercial strip malls dominating the urban landscape. The parking-centric design has also influenced the architecture of new residential buildings, with multi-story parking garages shaping the units above.
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