Bob Rennie in the Huffington Post:
The baby boomer is so automobile dependent because they needed it to socialize. Today youth does not need a car to get a date. Everything is done on their iPhones. It’s just a completely different culture. We’re really trying to tie that into our product design. Is youth going to be as competitive with the jewelry of home ownership as their parents were? I don’t think they are. …
When we sold out Marine Gateway in March, 414 units sold in a day. It was on the Canada Line. Twenty per cent of the product didn’t have parking. I actually phone the city manager and I said, “Screw the planning department, and screw the community groups. The consumer has spoken. They want to live on transit, and they’ll buy without parking.” I think that our elected officials need to hear what’s really going on.
– Bob Rennie
And screw the realtors, I say. Not really, but that kind of attitude from that kind of source is really not helpful. We hear enough of that from community groups and other more valid sources than a real estate agent.
I’d like Mr. Rennie to tell us some years from now how many of those 414 purchasers actually move into the “product” – horrible word – when it is completed. I’m guessing less than half. Some call them investors. I call them speculators and flippers. I’d love to be corrected with facts, but will we ever know the truth? Over to you, Mr. Rennie.
To be clear, it’s not planners that are against reduced or unbundled parking, it is elected officials who fear backlash from their constituents. Metro’s recent apartment parking study, which consulted planners from all over the region, was sent back to staff to remove anything resembling a “guideline” for local councils. Planners get it. However, the public lacks information and politicians lack courage.
Agreed – if the condos are being sold to investors to rent, parking is probably not a priority. Parking is far more important to owner occupiers than investors.
You imply that renters cant afford a car. Come on, say it!
Well why would you need parking when you can barely afford to live in the city and pay your mortgage…Basically, what has happened is that the high cost of living here has made most of us instant eco-friendly eco-density loving urbanites. If you could buy a house for 100-200K like in the States do you honestly think anybody would be taking transit and living in a 450 square foot condo without a parking?
And you know who loves this? Developers and real-estate agents. They can build utter crap and still sell it for obscene amounts of money. What’s that – no need for parking? – excellent we will not build parking and still charge you the same.
Consumer? Hardly. These aren’t end-users; these are middle-men pre-sale investors. Usually buying units in blocks. The only parking they need is a concrete box in the sky to park their money in.