Metro Vancouver Road Infrastructure Discussion

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Friends of mine across the street from the Ironworks Development on Victoria have been complaining that ever since the new building went up the curbside parking almost entirely vanished during the day, which was weird because we both saw the inner courtyard is gated parking.

Well we finally found out why so many tenants are parking on the street: The dedicated parking is all ImPark paid parking. Almost none of the tenants are willing to pay for that so they've clogged up the surrounding streets.

Ya I went there the other day and was blown away the street parking was not metred during the working hours. Definitely needs a change before it becomes a issue like Mount Pleasant Industrial Area.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Ya I went there the other day and was blown away the street parking was not metred during the working hours. Definitely needs a change before it becomes a issue like Mount Pleasant Industrial Area.

Most of that area of Mount Pleasant is metered now but I guess then you also balance it with enforcement/setup costs.

From September:

Expansion of metered on-street parking to generate a projected $4.8 million in incremental revenues. (The report doesn’t identify which areas of the city would see the installation of more meters, with details to come before budget talks in December).

The report says more meters would “support improved management of on-street parking and ensure adequate parking turnover, increased parking availability and reduced congestion for residents and business patrons.”

https://biv.com/article/2023/09/vancouve...s-increase-short-term-rental-licence-fee

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Most of that area of Mount Pleasant is metered now but I guess then you also balance it with enforcement/setup costs.

Yeah, that really put a damper on the frequency of my visits to Winners/Homesense (Cambie & 8th) to just browse.
Now I just stick with the downtown ones on the walk to/from work.

[WarrenC12]

I wonder if "metered" parking deployment is now cheaper as they are using the single machines per block instead of meters every X feet along the sidewalk.

The machines are certainly fancier, but I would expect a big portion of the cost is the labor in deploying them, and somewhat in collecting.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, that really put a damper on the frequency of my visits to Winners/Homesense (Cambie & 8th) to just browse.
Now I just stick with the downtown ones on the walk to/from work.

Sounds like a win really.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Friends of mine across the street from the Ironworks Development on Victoria have been complaining that ever since the new building went up the curbside parking almost entirely vanished during the day, which was weird because we both saw the inner courtyard is gated parking.

Well we finally found out why so many tenants are parking on the street: The dedicated parking is all ImPark paid parking. Almost none of the tenants are willing to pay for that so they've clogged up the surrounding streets.

But wait, I thought we were told by planners that things like parking minimums weren't needed anyway as nobody living in these new developments would apparently have cars?

Planning meets reality I guess.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

But wait, I thought we were told by planners that things like parking minimums weren't needed anyway as nobody living in these new developments would apparently have cars?

Planning meets reality I guess.

Nobody's living at Ironworks. And it met the parking requirements without any reduction.

[Lexus]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I wonder if "metered" parking deployment is now cheaper as they are using the single machines per block instead of meters every X feet along the sidewalk.

The machines are certainly fancier, but I would expect a big portion of the cost is the labor in deploying them, and somewhat in collecting.

I think meter for 2 cars is around $2-5k and the block machine is around $30k. It is cheaper in the long term. My number could be way off; however, from people in the field it definitely makes more sense in the long run, although implementation Costs are higher.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Lexus

I think meter for 2 cars is around $2-5k and the block machine is around $30k. It is cheaper in the long term. My number could be way off; however, from people in the field it definitely makes more sense in the long run, although implementation Costs are higher.

They just added new ones with touch screens but it seems like thy would get vandalized a lot.

• Video Link

CoV signed a $10-14 million contract to replace all their meters

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...andalize%2C%20a%20city%20director%20says.

[MIPS]

That dicks us all over at the shop and everyone on the south side of the street for the last ten years. We don't have any building parking provisions. Victoria already has a 1-2 hour time limit and no right turns after 6pm. We aren't asking for meters.
My complaint was why the hell they put the monolith next door with gated parking, then double-dipped on the actual parking so tenants won't actually use it?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by MIPS

That dicks us all over at the shop. We don't have any building parking provisions. Victoria already has a 1-2 hour time limit and no right turns after 6pm. We aren't asking for meters.
My complaint was why the hell they put the monolith next door with gated parking, then double-dipped on the actual parking so tenants won't actually use it?

Sounds like the tenants are being cheap. Nothing wrong with charging for parking separately so those who don't need it don't have to pay for it.

[jollyburger]

Are there any rules besides the Metro Van parking tax for private parking lots or is that just market based and up to the building owner?

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Are there any rules besides the Metro Van parking tax for private parking lots or is that just market based and up to the building owner?

I don't believe there's rent control for parking lots (yet!).

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Sounds like a win really.

Sort of. Less clutter , but the Cambie store carries more gardening/planters/seasonal stuff than the downtown Homesense.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by whatnext

But wait, I thought we were told by planners that things like parking minimums weren't needed anyway as nobody living in these new developments would apparently have cars?

Planning meets reality I guess.

SSSHHHH!!! You're destroying the progressive (regressive) narrative!

[s211]

Originally Posted by Klazu

SSSHHHH!!! You're destroying the progressive (regressive) narrative!

Prog-regressive?

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Klazu

SSSHHHH!!! You're destroying the progressive (regressive) narrative!

No one said anything of the sort. What many people have said is:

1. Certain parts of the city (walkable neighbourhoods, connections to fast, frequent, and reliable transit) need fewer parking spaces than parking minimums mandate.
2. If a new development needs a significant amount of parking, let market forces figure that out.
3. Too much public road space is being used by private land owners or renters to park their vehicle when they have access to a private spot, and that space could often be better repurposed for wider sidewalks, active mobility lanes, bus lanes, patios, and more.

No doubt changes to parking minimums (which Changing City has pointed out are not applicable to the Ironworks discussion) will cause some pain. A neighbor who has been able to find a free curbside spot for years may suddenly struggle find one. Accessible parking spots or delivery/pickup spots may need to be dedicated, when there was no need for that before. People living or working in the new buildings may need to experience a few weeks of inconvenience before then discover that biking, walking, or taking transit is easier for everyone.

In general parking minimums add to construction costs, sometimes result in less pleasant streetscapes, and can add several years of construction time to new projects (just compare Senakw to 1500 West Georgia, which started demolition and excavation a year earlier but hasn't began pouring the foundation and has plenty of digging left to do). But I don't think anyone has said changing parking minimums would be painless, especially for those used to a plethora of open parking spots.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Klazu

SSSHHHH!!! You're destroying the progressive (regressive) narrative!

This is a simple case of free parking vs paid parking. Who doesn't like free as long as it's more convenient.

Not to mention the development in question built a fair amount of parking and met the by-law.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

People living or working in the new buildings may need to experience a few weeks of inconvenience before then discover that biking, walking, or taking transit is easier for everyone.

When we visit Carscadden's architecture firm in Ironworks I think less than 30% of their office drives to work.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

No one said anything of the sort. What many people have said is:

1. Certain parts of the city (walkable neighbourhoods, connections to fast, frequent, and reliable transit) need fewer parking spaces than parking minimums mandate.
2. If a new development needs a significant amount of parking, let market forces figure that out.
3. Too much public road space is being used by private land owners or renters to park their vehicle when they have access to a private spot, and that space could often be better repurposed for wider sidewalks, active mobility lanes, bus lanes, patios, and more.

No doubt changes to parking minimums (which Changing City has pointed out are not applicable to the Ironworks discussion) will cause some pain. A neighbor who has been able to find a free curbside spot for years may suddenly struggle find one. Accessible parking spots or delivery/pickup spots may need to be dedicated, when there was no need for that before. People living or working in the new buildings may need to experience a few weeks of inconvenience before then discover that biking, walking, or taking transit is easier for everyone.

In general parking minimums add to construction costs, sometimes result in less pleasant streetscapes, and can add several years of construction time to new projects (just compare Senakw to 1500 West Georgia, which started demolition and excavation a year earlier but hasn't began pouring the foundation and has plenty of digging left to do). But I don't think anyone has said changing parking minimums would be painless, especially for those used to a plethora of open parking spots.

You're contradicting yourself here. If too many people are using public roads to park then that's a clear sign developments required more parking. It is also too late to let "the market forces figure it out" when a development is already built and occupied and surrounding streets become choked with cars.

As to the cost thing, why not just stop approving balconies? They add to unit costs and are very lightly used. And it's not like there aren't public parks to be used instead of standing out on a windswept balcony. It makes me laugh when people claim they couldn't live without it, yet anyone who has lived downtown knows how poorly the vast majority are used.