LogFAQs > #979472146

If the land and utility cost there is so low that they really don't save money by using less surface space, then you will definitely get a bunch of surface parking. It's everyone's favorite thing and you basically can't win. I wonder how much the city is subsidizing the increased utility area there though.

Another fun idea would be to move all the parking in the mixed use area to one big parking area in the rear, and move all the shops and housing up closer to the streets. That would reduce the walking distance from the housing units, and between the different buildings, so it's much more of a cohesive destination area. Those across the street could utilize it much easier too. They could even add more parking in that case to appease people, and it's ok because it's isolated and not separating the buildings out farther.

An extra benefit is when people realize the subsidies and economics for the big surface parking lot don't make sense, it's easier to build something useful on top of it if it has all been grouped up into one place.