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“Green” Parking Garage in Chicago. Oxymoron?

May 22, 2008 By Adam Hengels

Developer, Al Friedman plans to build a “green” parking garage in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, where development has replaced many surface lots. (Crain’s)

Environmentally speaking, it’s probably better than a surface lot and frees up more space for productive development. But, can the structure itself being green offset the environmental effects of the cars using it? Is this a lesser of evils? Or is making a parking structure “green” a wasted effort?

What do you think?

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Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: Chicago, green buildings, parking, parking structures

About Adam Hengels

Adam is passionate about urbanism, and founded this site in 2007, after realizing that classical liberals and urbanists actually share many objectives, despite being at odds in many spheres of the intellectual discussion. His mission is to improve the urban experience, and overcome obstacles that prevent aspiring city dwellers from living where they want. http://www.marketurbanism.com/adam-hengels/

Comments

  1. Daniel says

    May 22, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    Hm. It seems that “green” has morphed from a scientific argument/debate to a religion to a way of life to a marketing gimmick. Seems that the enviro crowd would rather park their Priuses (is that the correct pluralization?) in a “green” parking lot than one of another color. And, in an upscale urban neighborhood “green” is hip.

    “Mr. Friedman said going green seemed the right thing to do for a neighborhood known for its youthful spirit.”

    Perhaps it’s more about that than anything else.

    But, you’re absolutely right – green parking garages do indeed seem like an oxymoron. But, hey – you can plug in your electric car there, so all is well!

    Thanks for your post!

  2. Daniel says

    May 22, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    Hm. It seems that “green” has morphed from a scientific argument/debate to a religion to a way of life to a marketing gimmick. Seems that the enviro crowd would rather park their Priuses (is that the correct pluralization?) in a “green” parking lot than one of another color. And, in an upscale urban neighborhood “green” is hip.

    “Mr. Friedman said going green seemed the right thing to do for a neighborhood known for its youthful spirit.”

    Perhaps it’s more about that than anything else.

    But, you’re absolutely right – green parking garages do indeed seem like an oxymoron. But, hey – you can plug in your electric car there, so all is well!

    Thanks for your post!

  3. MarketUrbanism says

    May 22, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    I would definitely chalk it up to a marketing gimmick, since I would argue that a genuinely green person would walk or bike to work.

    The real news may be that green sells, regardless if it’s really environmentally friendly.

  4. Market Urbanism says

    May 22, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    I would definitely chalk it up to a marketing gimmick, since I would argue that a genuinely green person would walk or bike to work.

    The real news may be that green sells, regardless if it’s really environmentally friendly.

  5. Bill Nelson says

    May 22, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    Why should a garage need to offset “environmental effects”, or for that matter, serve any purpose other than a place to park your car? Sure, it might be “green” — or it might be “low carbs” or “organic” or what have you, but that’s a marketing gimmick to appeal to (unfortunate) popular tastes.

    Parking is difficult in that area (at least by non-NYC standards), so now it will be a little more competitive with other areas in (and around) Chicago. If you like to see people in the city center, then they had better be able to park — or you won’t see them there at all.

    Especially in Chicago, where any overlap between subway stations and active/desirable areas is strictly coincidental.

  6. Bill Nelson says

    May 22, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    Why should a garage need to offset “environmental effects”, or for that matter, serve any purpose other than a place to park your car? Sure, it might be “green” — or it might be “low carbs” or “organic” or what have you, but that’s a marketing gimmick to appeal to (unfortunate) popular tastes.

    Parking is difficult in that area (at least by non-NYC standards), so now it will be a little more competitive with other areas in (and around) Chicago. If you like to see people in the city center, then they had better be able to park — or you won’t see them there at all.

    Especially in Chicago, where any overlap between subway stations and active/desirable areas is strictly coincidental.

  7. MarketUrbanism says

    May 22, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    I wouldn’t say a garage needs to offset environmental effects of the driver. A garage is a garage. It doesn’t use much energy, although the cars it stores do.

    If the demand for parking tells Mr. Friedman to build a garage, why not?… But, to claim a garage is “green” is a stretch.

  8. Market Urbanism says

    May 22, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    I wouldn’t say a garage needs to offset environmental effects of the driver. A garage is a garage. It doesn’t use much energy, although the cars it stores do.

    If the demand for parking tells Mr. Friedman to build a garage, why not?… But, to claim a garage is “green” is a stretch.

  9. MarketUrbanism says

    May 24, 2008 at 2:45 am

    Here’s an interesting article by Don Boudreaux about “green”:

    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/boudreaux/s_568904.html

    What do you think?

  10. Market Urbanism says

    May 24, 2008 at 2:45 am

    Here’s an interesting article by Don Boudreaux about “green”:

    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/boudreaux/s_568904.html

    What do you think?

  11. Robert says

    June 4, 2008 at 1:17 am

    Another “Green” building, this has unfortunately lost its favor as the first response put it very well. However a parking garage is a key element in creating an urban setting; bringing people in to the city, removing cars from the road and people to the street or transit. And most all if this is a successful venture it proves to be a win-win for capitalist developers and urbanist who should be happy to see a consolidation of parking lots into a multi-layered structure.

  12. Robert says

    June 4, 2008 at 1:17 am

    Another “Green” building, this has unfortunately lost its favor as the first response put it very well. However a parking garage is a key element in creating an urban setting; bringing people in to the city, removing cars from the road and people to the street or transit. And most all if this is a successful venture it proves to be a win-win for capitalist developers and urbanist who should be happy to see a consolidation of parking lots into a multi-layered structure.

  13. T.C. O'Rourke says

    May 1, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    Yes.

    Next question.

  14. T.C. O'Rourke says

    May 1, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    Yes.

    Next question.

  15. CristianStar says

    August 8, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    I think that if we start thinking a little more about our safety, this concept wouldn't sound like an oxymoron. We need to combine our need with the surrounding nature because she is the one who keeps us alive and if we don't take care of her, we just might disappear as a race.

    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    SFO Parking

  16. woodworking ebooks says

    December 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    It’s probably better than a surface lot and frees up more space for productive development.

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