When most people buy a condo, they assume that a parking spot (or a few) will be included with the price of a condo.

Especially in downtown, or crowded areas, with limited public parking, having your own parking space can be crucial. But a growing number of developers are not including parking spaces in their new condo projects in an effort to cut down on the cost of housing and have a better impact on the environment.

A November 12, 2006 article by Linda Baker of The New York Times, “No Parking: Condos leave out cars,” discusses how many condo developers are not including parking with the unit which makes for a cheaper price tag.

In a day and age where housing is getting more expensive than ever, many of these prospective condo owners have no trouble with out a parking spot if it means the price will be cheaper. But all of this is a very new phenomenon for most states, since many have laws in place that actually require parking spots.

“Although condominiums without parking are common in Manhattan and the downtowns of a few other East Coast cities, they are the exception to the rule in most of the country. In fact, almost all local governments require developers to provide a minimum number of parking spaces for each unit — and to fold the cost of the space into the housing price.”

“The exact regulations, which are intended to prevent clogged streets and provide sufficient parking, vary by city. Houston’s code requires a minimum of 1.33 parking spaces for a one-bedroom and 2 spaces for a three-bedroom. Downtown Los Angeles mandates 2.25 parking spaces per unit, regardless of size. Today, city planners around the country are trying to change or eliminate these standards, opting to promote mass transit and find a way to lower housing costs.”

Today it seems like the two biggest reasons to eliminate parking spaces is to help the environment and promote mass public transportation, and to start reducing housing expenses. It is still early, but so far it seems as though a growing number of people are extremely interested in giving up a parking spot for cheaper housing, especially if these condos are built next to bus and light rail lines that make transportation very convenient and easy.

“Sustainable development is not the only factor driving changes to parking standards. ‘We talk about affordable housing as the most critical thing facing cities and the nation,’ Mr. Cody said. ‘But we never talk about the costs of the automobile.’ Since individual parking spaces cost about $40,000, reducing or eliminating parking is an effective way to lower housing prices, he said.”

Not only do these new homeowners get their units for cheaper than one with a space would be, but they also do not have to worry about the expenses associated with owning a car.

There are some that do not see these new trends in parking as a good thing.

“But not everybody is enthusiastic about the piecemeal changes taking place around the country, especially because often-arcane parking codes vary from district to district and city to suburb. In the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, where the new luxury tower One Rincon Hill is selling for $1,000 a square foot, parking standards allow a maximum of one space per unit. Just a few blocks away, downtown requirements undercut that figure by a quarter, making One Rincon Hill more attractive to buyers with cars.”

It seems as though this trend will continue to become more popular as it continues to become more difficult to finance a new home. People want discounts in their housing, and seem to do anything to get it cheaper.