LAUSR

Background Automobile parking in cities can have varied effects on walkability depending on approaches used. This is especially true in historic places that have well-established walkable downtowns. This research asks: 1) What approaches to parking retrofits have been undertaken within the two historic towns of San Luis Obispo and Davis California? 2) How have these approaches impacted walkability? Walkability is generally associated with streets that have human scale, sense of enclosure, and buildings that have minimal setbacks from sidewalks. Both cities in this study contain these types of streets in their downtown predominantly. They both have street parking that can have a positive effect on walkability in that cars serve as buffers between people and traffic. Surface parking lots in fronts of buildings are generally seen as detrimental due to automotive intrusions that break pedestrian flow and endanger walkers. Surface lot behind buildings can preserve many of the qualities that enhance walkability. Parking garages are solutions if the first floor of a parking structure contains commercial spaces. Parking garages with ground floor blank walls create unattractive environments for walkers. Methods The historic core of each city was evaluated using aerial photography and on site observations as case studies. Parking retrofits were inventoried and categorized by type along 20 street segments in each city: Street parking only; surface parking – behind buildings; Surface parking 50% of street frontage; Parking garage – retail on ground floor; and, Parking garage only. These segments were evaluated using descriptive analysis and a scoring instrument that objectively measures urban design qualities in terms of their impact on walkability (counts of people, measurements of various elements, etc.). Results All parking categories were present to varying degrees in both cities. San Luis Obispo’s approaches of placing surface parking behind buildings and using a parking garage that incorporates street level retail appears to have a higher correlation with design qualities that promote walkability. Davis showed a higher reliance on surface parking in front of buildings and a parking garage that presents blank walls to the sidewalk. These conditions showed a lower correlation. Conclusions This study compares parking approaches in two similar towns of California. Results suggest that street parking should be used when possible. Garages that place retail or commercial activity on the ground floor is preferred, in terms if limiting intrusions into the pedestrian realm.