Don't let parking dominate the site, the building or the street.

Parking is one of the most difficult issues to resolve in affordable housing development projects. It can overwhelm the best-designed buildings and open spaces, so its overall impact must be handled very carefully. Security is another important consideration, and parking areas should allow easy access and surveillance from the housing units. Vehicle/pedestrian interaction should be carefully analyzed, with a focus on minimizing conflicts. As part of this analysis, other ways a parking area might be used - for play or for car maintenance - should also be considered. If parking is provided under a podium, the podium itself should be designed as public open space.

Parking is a fact of life for any affordable housing development project, and it takes a focused design effort to avoid letting it dominate a property or the streetscape. Nonetheless, properly handled parking can fade into the background and still remain fully functional, accessible and safe.