ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to eliminate parking minimums nationwide
US Congress
For decades we haven’t built enough homes for people across the U.S, and housing prices are sky-high. Most people have been displaced themselves or know someone who has had to leave their community because they couldn’t find an affordable place to live.
As housing advocates, we envision communities where people can find homes near where they work, shop, and play. Unfortunately, many places have a minimum number of parking spaces required for every new home, but they’re not necessary – especially in places that have high-quality transit. We need housing for people, not cars.
Parking spaces are expensive to build, often as much as 20% of construction costs. This cost gets passed on to residents through higher rents or listing prices, even if they don’t drive. Generally, $10,000 in construction costs adds $100/mo in rent. Conventional parking minimums can increase the rent or mortgage of an apartment or house by $200-$500 per month.
Policies that require parking minimums have effectively mandated sprawl, car dependency, and environmental injustice. Sprawl refers to when homes, shops, and workplaces are widely spread across large areas, ultimately leading to longer commutes and a lot of unused space.
We need to tell our representatives to support the People Over Parking bill, which would lower parking requirements, end car dependency and legalize dense housing without parking minimums!Sponsored by
To:
US Congress
From:
[Your Name]
We’re writing to urge you to support the People Over Parking Act. This bill includes crucial policies to eliminate outdated parking minimum requirements for new affordable residential, retail, industrial, or commercial construction.
Most locales have a minimum number of parking spots required for every new home, but they’re not necessary – especially in places that have high-quality transit. We need housing for people, not cars. Space and money saved from not adding more parking can be used on homes, parks, and other neighborhood amenities
Charging for public on-street and garage parking encourages carpooling and public transit usage. Use parking revenue for sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and public transit improvements.
As housing advocates, we believe that everyone deserves safe, stable, affordable housing in walkable neighborhoods. As your constituents, we urge you to support policies that will eliminate parking minimums, prioritize dense housing, and reduce the cost of housing by increasing the number of homes available at all income levels.
Please hear our voices and express your support of the People Over Parking Act.