The Costs of Parking on Housing
Parking Expenses Add to Housing Expenses
Studies on the cost of parking suggest that surface parking lots can carry a price tag of $5,000 per spot; for multi-level parking structures, expect a higher price tag of $25,000 per space. For all types of housing, including multi-family developments, these costs are passed on to the residents of a property through higher sale prices and higher rents. Furthermore, because a portion of the property area must be reserved for car storage, there is less space for dwellings - limiting the economy of scale, thereby increasing the per-unit costs. Billings currently requires off-street parking for most properties outside of the downtown and EBURD zoning districts. For a single-family or two-family dwelling (most of Billings), two off-street parking spaces are required per dwelling unit. Two off-street parking spaces can take up to 700 square feet of space, almost equaling the footprint of a modest single-family home. Reducing or even eliminating the need to provide off-street parking reduces the cost to renters and home buyers alike. Poor Garage Design can Negatively Impact Neighborhoods
In the several decades since the end of World War II (and the subsequent beginnings of Suburbia), the attached garage has seen a meteoric rise in popularity and prioritization. Once a detached structure accessible from the alleyway, garages are now an inseparable part of the home, accessible from the street and, in many cases, located even with--or in front of--the facade of the house. This shift sends a clear message: we prioritize our cars over our homes. The negative impact garages can have on a neighborhood is two-fold. Not only are they an additional expense for the household, but they detract from the aesthetics of a neighborhood and discourage casual pedestrian activity on the streets. With the advent of the automobile, housing form changed accordingly to accommodate them, at the expense of neighborhood aesthetics and walkability. 
Source: Image adopted and modified from A Field Guide to American Houses
As the number of vehicles per household increases (and as trucks and SUV's become more popular), the amount of space dedicated to cars continues to expand. Automobile access has been prioritized over pedestrian access. These trends have led to houses where the garage is the dominant feature of the house:
Characteristics of Garage Dominant Housing Design
Alternative Parking Design
Here we provide ways to minimize some of the negative impacts of parking on housing affordability and neighborhoods.
Maximize the use of on-street parking Instead of relying solely on off-street parking, which costs more to build, consider utilizing on-street parking. Every street in Billings--with few exceptions--is built to accommodate on-street parking on both curbs. In many Billings neighborhoods, there are opportunities to increase the availability of on-street parking. Make garages less conspicuous Off-street parking can be designed in a way that minimizes their negative aesthetic and social impacts on a neighborhood. These strategies focus on making garages become less dominant features of houses and pedestrian streets. Maximize the use of on-street parking
Diagonal Parking In certain sections of Billings local residential streets are very wide. The aerial photo below is of a residential street intersection in Billings. To give you a sense of how wide the pavement is here, the street is wide enough to fit 5 pick-up trucks side-by-side. A wide, unhindered road like this encourages cars to travel at a speed that is too fast for a residential neighborhood and poses safety issues.
Parallel parking can be converted to diagonal parking to increase the availability of on-street parking. This strategy is appropriate for this space because 1) the street is wide enough to accommodate diagonal parking while allowing cars to pass through and 2) diagonal parking can help calm traffic by narrowing the travel lanes.
Downsize curb cuts
Wider driveways reduce space available for on-street parking. Consider limiting the driveway entrance to the width that is required for car access. This way we can preserve as much on-street parking as possible.
Make garages less conspicuous
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