In 2021 Bridgewater College student Trevor Brooks and biology professor Tim Kreps conducted a heat assessment of Harrisonburg as part of a statewide research project called Heat Watch. They found that the hottest parts of Harrisonburg are where we have the most surface area covered in parking lots and stroads.
Brent, this is good stuff, I might actually use it one of my classes. Harrisonburg isn't the type of city I would have immediately thought of with a heat island problem. Although getting rid of parking lots is a dicey proposition in a city with abysmal public transportation. :/
This is true. But there's also research out there on minimum population/development densities to make different forms of public transit efficient, and I think that is probably a challenge for Harrisonburg. (Hell, it's a challenge for Columbus) I agree parking minimums are a bad idea. I think maximums could prove equally perilous, but it does make sense to let each business decide for itself.
I think your article also highlights problems around path dependence. While Valley Mall probably used to use that space more efficiently, it no longer draws that volume. However paved areas take very little maintenance so they just stay that way without proper incentives to use land more efficiently.
Brent, this is good stuff, I might actually use it one of my classes. Harrisonburg isn't the type of city I would have immediately thought of with a heat island problem. Although getting rid of parking lots is a dicey proposition in a city with abysmal public transportation. :/
Transit vs parking is a "chicken-AND-the-egg" issue. Often you'll hear people say we can't eliminate parking unless/until we have better transit, but no one will take transit if all the buildings are pushed apart by parking that is free. So, yes to both (increasing transit funding and capping parking) at the same time. https://housingmatters.urban.org/articles/no-parking-anytime-how-parking-minimums-impede-transit-oriented-housing
This is true. But there's also research out there on minimum population/development densities to make different forms of public transit efficient, and I think that is probably a challenge for Harrisonburg. (Hell, it's a challenge for Columbus) I agree parking minimums are a bad idea. I think maximums could prove equally perilous, but it does make sense to let each business decide for itself.
I think your article also highlights problems around path dependence. While Valley Mall probably used to use that space more efficiently, it no longer draws that volume. However paved areas take very little maintenance so they just stay that way without proper incentives to use land more efficiently.
Respectfully disagree that parking maximums are equally perilous. Right-pricing parking and implementing caps means we lose an ounce of convenience and gain a pound of other benefits. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-08/lessons-from-zurich-s-parking-revolution
Excellent ideas!