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Old Posted Jul 27, 2016, 3:48 PM
PKDickman PKDickman is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the urban politician View Post
^ Where was the empirical proof in the 1950's that 1:1 parking spaces per housing unit in Chicago was reflective of actual car ownership, thus justifying the mandated ratio?

You are placing the burden of proof on a more recent policy that reverses an older policy which had never been justified to begin with. I'm hoping you're understanding what I'm trying to say
There is a misconception that, like Athena, off street parking ratios sprung fully formed from the 1957 zoning code in some attempt to leave-it-to-beaverize the city.

Although less onerous ratios, (1/1 low density 1/3 high) they became a requirement in 1940.
The original '57 code's ratios were also less. (3/4 high density 1/2 efficiencies)

1/1 didn't start until 1971 when the census told us the nearly 50% of the total Chicago population drove themselves to work.

Parking ratios evolved in response to existing auto ownership, not the other way around.

Current census estimates say there are 1.1 cars per household.
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