Henry Grabar

I don't need you.

I don't need you.

Yeah, I get it. I, you know, I don't like paying for parking either. Nobody, to be sure, nobody likes paying for parking. I think the question is not, do we want to pay for parking? The question is, do we want to accept the trade-offs that come with free parking everywhere all the time?

Yeah, I get it. I, you know, I don't like paying for parking either. Nobody, to be sure, nobody likes paying for parking. I think the question is not, do we want to pay for parking? The question is, do we want to accept the trade-offs that come with free parking everywhere all the time?

Yeah, I get it. I, you know, I don't like paying for parking either. Nobody, to be sure, nobody likes paying for parking. I think the question is not, do we want to pay for parking? The question is, do we want to accept the trade-offs that come with free parking everywhere all the time?

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

And in the case of basically the last century of American planning, we've learned that free parking for everyone all the time is a recipe for traffic congestion, high housing costs, ugly architecture, dangerous streets, and ultimately a place that's less accessible, not more accessible.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

Well, it would seem that there's going to have to be, for any of this to work, some sort of collective mind shift about this whole thing. Because I think people who drive cars believe that if they drive a car somewhere, they're entitled to a place to put it. Even if they have to pay for it, there should be a place to put it. Otherwise, they're not going to drive there.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

And it's an entitlement almost. And to change that mindset seems like it's going to be hard.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

I think one thing to drive home about parking is that it feels like it costs nothing because it's free for you most of the time. But building parking is actually really, really expensive. Like just building a parking lot can cost $5,000, $10,000 a space. And building a parking garage can cost $50,000 a space. And if it's underground, it can be up to $100,000 a space.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.

And so when we ask for more parking, we are folding in hidden and massive costs, right? that aren't paid for by drivers when they show up at the parking garage, but they're paid for by everybody else. If you rent an apartment in a building with a 50 space parking garage, the cost of building that garage is folded into your rent, whether you drive or not.