From‘Shoe-ista’ to ‘Shoupista’:


Unbundling Cost of Residential Parking as Translated in Shoes


By Astrid Ambroziak


Fall arrived and with it our first rain of the season. Los Angeles sun doesn’t like to go away for long. Per-


haps, because just like most of us, the sun doesn’t want to pay for parking. Morning startedwith the rain. Then throughout the day, the


rain and sun were switching places. In the final analysis, the sun must have needed some rest. It must had found some free park- ing spot in the clouds, while the rain continued to soak us till late evening. Rain or sunshine, being an avid runner, I am always out


there pounding the pavement. Today, I combined my jogging with running some errands. I ran on a busy street and sawmany people hunting for ametered parking spaces. Everyday, but espe- cially on that rare rainy day, people want to park as close as pos- sible to their destination. It always astoundsme that in a city as fitness-oriented as Los


Angeles, people don’t like to walk that extra block. They could save on their expensive gym memberships and that expensive valet. Yet, they always choose to drive and park. Preferably for free if free parking is available. It seems to be human nature to expect free and convenient


parking.One placewhere people believe parking is free is at their places of residence.We think that becausewe own a house or rent an apartment, and each comeswith two parking spaces, those are free. In actuality, they are quite expensive. They are most likely more pricey than permit or evenmetered parking. In my neighborhood, a yearly street parking permit is $35.


However, the two spaces downstairs in the garage of my build- ing costme at least $3,600 a year in additional rent.With a Christ- mas


season so overtly


announced on billboards and TV commercials, I could use that money to gift my loved ones with fancier presents than my current budget allows. Or I could get a great pair of stilet- tos. However, I do have a car and I do drive it on occasion. Obviously I don’t drive


must park.And everyone knows that a goodwife is not only hard to find, but quite expensive be it in time ormoney. Getting rid of my car and calculating in the cost of my car


very much since my 2004 Explorer has less than 13,000 miles on it. What would hap- pen if Iwere to give upmy car?After all, I live in an area where I can walk to stores, shops, restaurants, museums and churches. My doctor,my optometrist,my chicken guy andmy fish guy are only a few blocks away. On top of it, Iwork fromhome. Perhaps giving up my car in these tough economic times would be a great idea. Cutbacks are commonplace these days. I know I could save


plenty on parking when I do drivemy car because parking in the City of Angels can be costly. City parking is the wife of driving. They are a til’-death-do-us-part married couple. You drive, you


Parking Today www.parkingtoday.com


If I would also be able to start saving some money on parking in my garage, I could get a new pair of Mr. Blahnik’s shoes basically every other month.


insurance, gasoline and on-street parking show me that I can come up with a new pair of Manolo Blahniks every four months. However, if I would also be able to start saving some money on parking in my garage, I could get a newpair of Mr. Blahnik’s shoes basically every othermonth. I amtalking about a low-price pair at around $700. If Iwere able to do that, I would give up my truck immediately. Nevertheless, these sav-


ings onmy home garage parking are impossible. Because a car or not,my landlord chargesme for a package deal: The roof overmy head and the roof overmy existing car or a phantomcar. Although my landlord is rather greedy, I am sure that he,


being a good businessman, would like the option of developing some of his rental properties without the obligatory parking space or two per unit.My landlord doesn’t have that choice. He must observe the rules, the rules that cover parking minimums and other parking requirements. And those significantly add to


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