MAPC sPARKing New Ideas Parking Symposium: Presentation by Steve Cecil

1. 1S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Design and Parking Strategies
for Stronger Communities
MAPC | 8 April 2014
On the Surface….
Steven Cecil AIA ASLA
The Cecil Group
April, 2014

2. 2S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Retrofitting New England communities to cars
Looking Back
PARKING AND NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITIES

3. 3S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 When cars and parking were modern and cool…
Looking back
DESIGN AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS OF THE PAST

4. 4S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Retrofitting New England communities to cars
Parking today
PARKING IN TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES

5. 5S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Converting suburban parking and development patterns
Parking today
PARKING IN SUBURBAN AREAS

6. 6S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Cadillac Ranch…
Commentaries and views of the future
CARS AND CULTURE

7. 7S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 The pedestrian culture and image: Southfield
Commentaries and views of the future
CARS AND CULTURE

8. 8S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Market forces: surface parking is needed in mid- and low-density towns
 Dissonance: The image of traditional, compact communities is at odds with
interspersed and convenient parking
Practical economics of surface parking
LAND ECONOMICS AND PARKING

9. 9S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Do the math: Even with successful shared parking and transportation
alternatives, the amount of parking required in small towns and suburbs is
slightly less than the square footage of the buildings that it serves
Practical economics of surface parking
LAND ECONOMICS AND PARKING

10. 10S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Sufficient and “reasonably convenient” parking
 Integrated design solutions: Wayfinding, parking spaces, parking
infrastructure and pedestrian environment
 Repositioning and re-imaging parking: Making parking cool again
Solutions are dependent upon area-wide strategies and design
PLANNING AND DESIGN ARE REQUIRED /Advantages of Successful Districts

11. 11S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Reversed (back-in) angled parking (Somerville)
 Motorist backs into space
 Pulls out facing forwards
On-Street parking configurations
METHODS AND TRENDS IN ON-STREET PARKING
NelsonNygaard Boston Globe

12. 12S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Green sidewalk planting areas treat runoff, allow infiltration
 Require depressed planting bed and permeable edging
Transforming the curb edge
PORTLAND, OREGON
CURBSIDE PARKING/Design Considerations

13. 13S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Salt impacts
 Oil/water considerations
To permeate or not to permeate…
CURBSIDE PARKING/Sustainability Considerations
GRAPHIC: NEW YORK TIMES

14. 14S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Curbside Parking
CURBSIDE PARKING/Design Considerations
 Edges as design opportunities

15. 15S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Reducing the visual impacts
PARKING LOTS: Basic Considerations
WALL HEIGHT

16. 16S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Rethinking parking lot landscaping: public art and parking
PARKING LOTS
 “Power center” parking in the Bay Area

17. 17S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Rethinking Parking Lots and Bicycle Parking
PARKING LOTS
 Bicycle “trees”

18. 18S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Rethinking parking lot landscaping
PARKING LOTS
 Michel Desvigne and rethinking tree plantings
 Inspiration from New England traditions: Informal layouts and incidental
plantings
KEIO UNIVERSITY ROOFGARDEN, TOKYO

19. 19S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Rethinking Parking Lot Landscaping
PARKING LOTS
 Michel Desvigne and rethinking tree plantings
 Inspiration from New England traditions: informal layouts and incidental
plantings

20. 20S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
New parking lot landscaping concepts
TYPICAL PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING
SUSTAINABILITY / MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS OF PARKING >

21. 21S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
New parking lot landscaping concepts
GROVE PLANTING PATTERN
SUSTAINABILITY / MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS OF PARKING >

22. 22S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Sustainable practices
PARKING LOTS
 Bioswales as edges and islands

23. 23S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Sustainable Practices
PARKING LOTS
 Photovoltaic arrays

24. 24S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Paying for Parking
EVOLVING PAYMENT SYSTEMS
 The end of parking meters?

25. 25S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Paying for parking
EVOLVING PAYMENT SYSTEMS
 Aesthetics
 Practical issues

26. 26S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Paying for Parking
EVOLVING PAYMENT SYSTEMS
 Aesthetics
 Practical issues

27. 27S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Clear signage – standardized, uncluttered
 Placed where drivers can actually see it
 Concord: Parking nearby, but…
Finding parking spaces while driving
WAYFINDING / GETTING THERE FROM HERE
Keep the
signage clear
and simple

28. 28S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
WAYFINDING / GETTING THERE FROM HERE
Images: The Cecil Group
and NelsonNygaard
Consulting
Tell them how to go straight to parking…and keep it simple

29. 29S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Apps like Park Circa allow individuals to rent out their driveway parking
spaces on a per-case basis. Uses spaces more efficiently, distributes
spaces throughout a neighborhood that may have little parking.
 Apps like SpotHero help drivers find a parking space in a lot or garage for
the amount of time they need, showing spaces available and the cost
Finding and using parking spaces efficiently
TECHNOLOGY, PARKING AND WAYFINDING

30. 30S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
 Getting one’s bearings after parking
 For visitors, signage and maps help greatly
 Concord Center: basic orientation is hidden from view
“Every driver becomes a pedestrian” – Jason Shrieber, NelsonNygaard Consultants
WAYFINDING / PARKING IS NOT ENOUGH

31. 31S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
The future of wayfinding is partly signage, but is likely to also include
phone apps.
WAYFINDING / PARKING IS NOT ENOUGH

32. 32S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
The future of wayfinding is partly signage, but is likely to also include
phone apps.
WAYFINDING / PARKING IS NOT ENOUGH

33. 33S P A R K I N G N E W I D E A S | P A R K I N G S T R A T E G I E S F O R S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S | T h e C e c i l G r o u p
Design and Parking Strategies
for Stronger Communities
MAPC | 8 April 2014
On the Surface….