This paper reports on research work carried out for the urban land institute to establish the parking standards that should be used in the design of shopping centers. An examination of the demand for parking facilities at 270 centers throughout the united states and canada was undertaken. The research has shown that there are many factors involved in establishing these standards, such as parking habits, trading area, mode of travel, and the presence of nonretail uses in the shopping centers. This research pointed out that at a shopping center where there is little walk-in or transit trade 5.5 spaces per 1000 square feet of gross leasable area will accommodate customer and employee parking demands on all but the three highest days of the year, with allowance for parking maneuvering. This is considerably lower than most zoning ordinances in effect throughout the country today. The purpose of this research project was to investigate the demand for parking facilities at existing shopping centers and, on the basis of these observations to establish parking standards to be used in the design of shopping centers. These standards are to reflect the present consumer shopping habits and owner operational practices at shopping centers in the united states and canada. /author/.
Abstract