by MarkJ » Mon 01 Dec 2008, 13:41:43
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')overnments also create sprawl by forcing businesses, apartment buildings, and developers to provide (usually free) parking. For example, nearly all building codes require developers to provide two off-street parking spaces per house, and most apartment buildings provide at least one parking space per bedroom and sometimes more.
I couldn't imagine building a home, business, apartment building or development without substantial off-street parking.
Two off-street parking spaces per apartment are a must in my region if you want quality long term tenants. The downfall of many older city apartment buildings, multi-use office/store/apartments, multi-family homes and downtown sections was the lack of on-street and off-street parking. You often have to buy one or more neighboring structures and demolish them to create enough off-street parking.
Due to limited on-street parking, overnight winter parking bans, snow emergency parking bans, plowing, snowblowing and shoveling, you need plenty of room for off-street parking and jockeying vehicles around when clearing snow.
My typical tenants have two vehicles and occasional guests that also drive, so they need plenty of off-street parking unless they want to risk being ticketed or having their vehicle towed.
Many years ago some cities banned or reduced parking on many streets, installed more fire hydrants, more sidewalks etc which reduced parking substantially. They also started ticketing and towing the vehicles of residents, guests and service companies that parked on streets, front lawns, mouths of driveways, or that blocked sidewalks even if it was only temporary.
When people look at buying or renting a city property, many of them won't even consider a property without substantial off-street parking. The mention of no parking, odd/even parking, limited parking and shared driveways is enough to send people running for the villages, suburbs and rural areas. Even the mobile home parks have plenty of parking for residents, guests and a few toys.
When you can't compete with the quantity of land, parking and quality of life in a mobile home park, you're pretty much screwed.