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High Density Parking Solutions For Housing
Michael O'Bryan
Group VP of Engineering, Park Plus, Inc.
All too often, housing developments are shaped by their parking needs. Local zoning codes’ parking minimum regulations frequently make it unfeasible to build housing in many urban infill locations as developers are challenged to fit enough parking within either limited site configurations or limited budgets. For example, underground parking garages can cost upwards of $50,000 to $100,000 per parking stall and need sufficient space for ramps and drive aisles.
As many car-dependent cities become denser, communities are challenged with how to balance the need for new parking capacity for new residents (for at least the foreseeable future), while simultaneously adapting to a more transit-oriented, walkable future. High density parking systems offer one way to provide much needed parking in increasingly limited spaces for a range of budgets.
In this episode, Michael O’Bryan, Group VP of Engineering for one of the nation’s leading parking system providers, Park Plus, Inc., guides us through four general categories of high density parking solutions, from the simplest and most cost effective one-level sliders, to multi-level stacking options (stacking two to four cars high), to larger semi-automated puzzle systems (and suspended platforms), to more complex and expensive fully automated options consisting of ‘rack and rail’ and ‘automated guided vehicle’ (AGV) systems. Whether it is a backyard home, a small infill, 50-foot wide lot, or a larger mixed use development, there are a range of parking options to accommodate any size, shape, or budget. We also learn how developments can be ready to gradually embrace the transition away from cars and accommodate a range of other needs as cities move towards a less car-dependent future.
