Sacramento does this, they manage the lots owned by the local SEIU chapter and charge for them at times when the SEIU does not need the parking. (https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Public-Works/Parking-Services/Lots-and-Garages/Rates -- this applies to the SEIU lot but there may be others). I do wish more cities or jurisdictions attempted to do this but I imagine there's liability/insurance issues that are much easier to overcome when you can charge for that parking like they can here. May be harder to do as free parking.
We know a non-profit theater company that is attempting to work out a tax-break strategy for the owner of a potential parking lot, now vacant and adjacent to the theater. So far, the landlord has had little need to develop the lot, but as three new commercial spaces he has developed in that neighborhood are set to open soon, the parking lot will become a reality. The non-profit hopes to convince the landlord that if he offers short-term use of the lot for off-hour theater activities occasionally, he could get tax breaks that would benefit him and reduce his costs. This may be a strategy that works for others in similar situations. It helps that the president of the theater non-profit also has his own insurance agency!
Interesting! That's a neat example of how something like this could be hammered out in real life. I realize I'm simplifying it in this post, which is about how we think about these parking lots. But also interested in what it looks like from a policy/implementation angle!
Indeed, non-profits are not simple however and "hammered out" is apt. I've been lucky enough to know several savvy folks who have done good civic work through non-profits. I often seek their advice. (I've also been unlucky enough to know several others who should have gone to therapy instead of our board meetings!)
The "Pop-Up" approach to public spaces will only gain momentum in the aftermath of Lockdown. Commercial shipping containers can be repurposed to house chairs, tables, awnings, tents, bars and other bits of instant-event infrastructure. Parking lots are ideal for this kind of use.
Sacramento does this, they manage the lots owned by the local SEIU chapter and charge for them at times when the SEIU does not need the parking. (https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Public-Works/Parking-Services/Lots-and-Garages/Rates -- this applies to the SEIU lot but there may be others). I do wish more cities or jurisdictions attempted to do this but I imagine there's liability/insurance issues that are much easier to overcome when you can charge for that parking like they can here. May be harder to do as free parking.
Thanks, great example! And hey, I'm okay with charging too!
We know a non-profit theater company that is attempting to work out a tax-break strategy for the owner of a potential parking lot, now vacant and adjacent to the theater. So far, the landlord has had little need to develop the lot, but as three new commercial spaces he has developed in that neighborhood are set to open soon, the parking lot will become a reality. The non-profit hopes to convince the landlord that if he offers short-term use of the lot for off-hour theater activities occasionally, he could get tax breaks that would benefit him and reduce his costs. This may be a strategy that works for others in similar situations. It helps that the president of the theater non-profit also has his own insurance agency!
Interesting! That's a neat example of how something like this could be hammered out in real life. I realize I'm simplifying it in this post, which is about how we think about these parking lots. But also interested in what it looks like from a policy/implementation angle!
Indeed, non-profits are not simple however and "hammered out" is apt. I've been lucky enough to know several savvy folks who have done good civic work through non-profits. I often seek their advice. (I've also been unlucky enough to know several others who should have gone to therapy instead of our board meetings!)
The "Pop-Up" approach to public spaces will only gain momentum in the aftermath of Lockdown. Commercial shipping containers can be repurposed to house chairs, tables, awnings, tents, bars and other bits of instant-event infrastructure. Parking lots are ideal for this kind of use.
If something comes of this, I'll keep you posted.