Reader: When You Give Up Cars in Denver, You Give Up Freedom

This summer, Denver City Council lifted minimum parking requirements on new housing developments. Two University of Denver scholars recently analyzed how this could help create more affordable housing in the area, since valuable urban land would no longer have to be devoted to parking lots.

They determined that “eliminating a requirement for surplus parking spaces allows more compact, efficient forms of development, which results in more walkable cities and more connected neighborhoods.”

But in their comments on the Westword Facebook post, readers get revved up over the topic of that study. Says Mark:

Sure, not having to build parking allows developers to add more units in the same building envelope and they make more money. But people in the West like their freedom to roam, and need a car. Try taking a Uber to the mountains to hike. How about riding your bike to work in a snowstorm? People need their cars. When you give up cars in Denver, you give up freedom.

Responds Elayna:

There are only a handful of days a year where Denver is not bikeable. On those days, I take a train or bus. I use a carshare or Turo to rent a car a few times a year to go to the mountains when I don’t go with friends. No one living within five-to-ten miles of downtown needs to own a car.

Counters Melissa:

So, cool…pay lots of money to carry groceries, never venture to the mountains or visit people in other towns without the oh-so-fun bus or overpriced Uber. Plus, no way in hell can your buddy with a car come visit easily. Everyone’s dream home for real.

Suggests Erin:

Good. The government shouldn’t be mandating this, if developers don’t right-size their parking, then that won’t sell their housing. But we also need to have street parking by paid permit only or metered spaces where it gets crowded – stop subsidizing free storage space.

Offers Mike:

We find that packing more cars into Colorado is great and makes things so much better.

Repliwas Ryan:

More expensive, you mean. Parking will always be available for those who want it, but there will be more affordable housing options for those who don’t want/need it.

Notes Robert:

Denver has a housing crisis, not a parking crisis.

Concludes Carly:

Where the hell are people supposed to park their vehicles? This ain’t the freaking answer to “affordable housing.” Rent control is.

What do you think of Denver ending parking minimums for new developments? Post a comment or share your thoughts at editorial@westword.com.