Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

We're getting into some of the heavy hitters today in Parking Madness, our annual tournament examining the damage done to city landscapes by surface parking lots. This year's tournament, however, flips the script, attempting to find the "parking crater" that has been most transformed into a beloved city space.

There's still time to vote in yesterday's matchup, which paired Atlanta and Oakland transit station infill. Minnesota has already advanced with a win over Kansas City.

Today we're looking at two major cities that have been growing their parking craters away.

parking madness 2019 2

Houston

This shocking historic panoramic of downtown Houston in the early 1980s comes to us via Houston-based planner Christof Spieler.

houston before
houston after

Spieler explains:

One of the most famous photos pf Houston is the Alex Maclean aerial photo of parking lots in Downtown Houston in the early 1980s. That exact spot is now Discovery Green, a thriving urban park, and the surrounding convention and hotel district.

He adds, in reference to the "after" photo that it's even better than it appears. "Apple Maps isn’t quite up to date" he said. "One of the lots at right is now a new performing arts high school."

Boston

Boston's Seaport is one of the nation's most famous reformed parking craters. The area, in fact, was a previous contender on our regular parking crater competition in 2015. But since then the cranes have been hard at work.

boston seaport before
Boston Seaport circa 2005. Image: Ted Pyne, MassGIS
boston seaport after
2018

Ted Pyne, a reader who nominated this space, says:  "The 2018 image is already out of date. Four of the parking lots in the July 2018 image are now under construction."

Both of these areas still have a fair way to go, but they are certainly headed the right direction when more places for people to live and work and fewer spaces that are dead zones of unsustainable car storage.

Tell us which should advance to the second round!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Are Driverless Big Rigs a Good Idea?

What will automated trucks really mean for America?

May 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Have a Future

But these freeways shouldn't, according to the Congress for New Urbanism.

May 30, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Bike Guides to Build Your City

Bill Schultheiss on AASHTO and NACTO bike lane design guides, the importance of history, political will and the stress of being an expert witness in court.

May 29, 2025

Outrage Grows Over NYPD Bike Criminalization, But City Council Is In No Rush

Many members of the New York City Council want Speaker Adrienne Adams to act to protect immigrant cyclists from the NYPD, but she doesn't want to.

May 29, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Live to Fight Another Day

Congestion pricing won a major court victory that suggests it's here to stay, and could eventually open the door for other cities to follow New York's lead.

May 29, 2025

Duffy Tells Congress He’s Not Delaying DOT Projects — As He Delays DOT Projects

Thousands of federal transportation grants remain in limbo as the Trump administration cuts staff and cracks down on DEI, bike lanes and environmental rules.

May 29, 2025
See all posts