11-13-2014, 09:24 AM
I have some experience with smaller rentals near downtown, and parking is one of the things where attitudes vary widely depending on people. Some believe that it is their God-given right to an off-street parking space big enough to manoeuvre into without turning one’s brain on (preferably covered); others use their car more infrequently and don’t care where it might happen to hang out when it’s not being used.
I’ve experimented with charging “extra” rent for including a parking spot (more like a discount for not needing one), and a surprising number of people are downright offended by this. I love my neighbourhood, and people who will actually walk around in it add value to it, so that’s my rationale. I’ve had some people suggest that charging for parking is somehow discriminatory. Yes, these people are invariably not already living in built-up areas of the Region.
Anyway, I’m only trying to speak to an attitude about parking that regards it as a necessity instead of the rather wasteful use of land that it is. I can’t see this changing very quickly at all, and it will be a big headwind for downtown in a lot of ways.
I’ve experimented with charging “extra” rent for including a parking spot (more like a discount for not needing one), and a surprising number of people are downright offended by this. I love my neighbourhood, and people who will actually walk around in it add value to it, so that’s my rationale. I’ve had some people suggest that charging for parking is somehow discriminatory. Yes, these people are invariably not already living in built-up areas of the Region.
Anyway, I’m only trying to speak to an attitude about parking that regards it as a necessity instead of the rather wasteful use of land that it is. I can’t see this changing very quickly at all, and it will be a big headwind for downtown in a lot of ways.