Reader: The Harder You Make Parking, the Fewer People Will Come to Denver

Denver is one step closer to becoming the second Colorado city to abolish minimum parking requirements. Under the city's proposal, developers would be able to choose whether to include new parking spaces in construction projects, and existing businesses and housing complexes would be able to eliminate current parking. If approved, the change would take effect on August 11.

The trio of bills to remove parking minimums from Denver's zoning code passed a preliminary Denver City Council vote on Monday; the final council vote and public hearing are scheduled for August 4.

In the meantime, readers didn't waste time parking their opinions on the Westword Facebook page. Says Jay:

That's about to be a disaster. It already is.

Adds Jonathan:

This is dumb as fuck. There's already not enough parking in Denver to facilitate the amount of people, especially around apartment complexes. And no one will want to live somewhere that they have to fight to find street parking.

Responds Ryk: 

There's plenty of parking, and buildings can still provide whatever number of spaces they need. No business will ignore the parking needs of their residents and risk not being to fill their units.

Offers Geoffrey:

If I didn't know any better, I'd think Denver was passive-aggressively trying to get people to get rid of their cars.

Suggests Andrea:

The ordinance should really be to require apartment buildings to offer parking to residents free of charge, or included in their rent. Lots of these buildings in LoDo are charging $150 a month. If tenants could afford to use parking structures, there would be more parking on the street.

Notes Robert:

We need more parking spaces, not less. The harder you make it. the less you will see people spend time in Denver.

Adds Tia:

I'm visiting Denver and the fact everything is paid parking as well as there not being any parking lots at businesses has kept me from going to any local business and made me absolutely hate the city. I'm from South Carolina; I've traveled all over the country and I have never seen anything like this. From my viewpoint as a traveler, I believe the extreme lack of parking will cause most businesses close down from lack of revenue. After people visit here once they hate Denver over it and it seems like it'll just get worse. 

And Greg concludes: 

So, are we getting an RTD expansion/upgrade to offset the lack of parking...or?

What do you think of the city's new parking plan? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].