Today, Explained They paved paradise
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Dec 5, 2023 
Henry Grabar, a reporter at Slate and author of "Paved Paradise," dives into the complex relationship between parking and urban development. He discusses how excessive parking requirements shape communities and drive up housing costs. Grabar highlights innovative solutions for urban parking and how electric cars might transform our approach. He also touches on the socio-economic disparities in charging accessibility and the potential benefits of repurposing underutilized parking areas for community goals.
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Church Parking Struggle
- Pastor Carter couldn't buy his ideal church in Chicago due to the city's parking requirements.
- He needed 18 spaces, highlighting how parking rules can hinder development.
Parking Oversupply
- The US has an estimated 1-2 billion parking spaces, exceeding the 300 million vehicles.
- This oversupply results in most parking spaces being empty most of the time.
Origins of Parking Requirements
- Mid-20th-century city planners mandated parking for all new buildings to combat downtown parking shortages.
- This led to a massive oversupply of parking, transforming city landscapes.
