Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Parking

Portland’s Parking-Free Apartment Boom

3:16 PM EDT on August 21, 2012

Portland is undergoing a bit of a building boom. According to local planners, about 40 apartment projects have come online in the last year and a half. Here's the best part: More than half of those apartment projects have no parking -- for cars anyway.

Evan Burton is one of the growing numbers of apartment dwellers in Portland who don't own a car. Photo: ##http://www.opb.org/news/article/no-room-parking-many-new-apartment-projects/?utm_source=August+20%2C+2012&utm_campaign=Tracks-Aug-15&utm_medium=email## Oregon Public Broadcasting##

Portland developers have been choosing to forgo building car storage into their residential projects, and that's helping renters save big, reports Oregon Public Broadcasting.

“The cost of parking would make building this type of project on this location unaffordable,” developer Dave Mullens told OPB. “Parking a site is the difference between a $750 apartment and a $1,200 apartment. Or, the difference between apartments and condos."

A Portland planner told OPB that the city is consciously trying to "grow up" to increase density, and that current zoning allows for residential development without parking. Planners said neighborhoods that attract car-free renters must be "transit friendly, nice and walkable."

But rest assured, Portland is not without its NIMBYs.

"Conflicts between developers and neighbors are flaring up all over Portland," OPB reported. The station described the disagreements pitting home owners against renters.

When it comes to parking policy that supports walkable neighborhoods, not everyone is going to be supportive. But you can't argue with the results in Portland -- a strong market for development, and housing options that are more affordable. More cities should be seizing on policies that make it easier to build without parking.

Seattle recently implemented some parking reforms in transit rich areas. Might we expect to see the same influx of car-free buildings and residents soon?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Hush That Fuss

New BRT in Denver, the case for reimagining parking lots, and more in today's headlines.

March 29, 2024

Why We Care About Some Transportation Tragedies More Than Others

Why do we respond to major transportation disasters with so much urgency — and why don't we count our collective car crash epidemic among them?

March 28, 2024

The Toll of History: MTA Board Approves $15 Congestion Pricing Fee

New York City's first-in-the-nation congestion pricing tolls are one historic step closer to reality after Wednesday's 11-1 MTA board vote. Next step: all those pesky lawsuits.

March 28, 2024

Take Thursday’s Headlines Home, Country Roads

Heat Map reports on why rural Americans are resisting electric vehicles, and why it might not matter much for the climate.

March 28, 2024
See all posts