The Number

Of the 4.59 million workers in Los Angeles County, 3.67 million drive to work alone, while another 448,750 carpool. That translates to 83 percent of the workforce commuting by car, truck or van, according to Census Bureau data. A CBRE Group Inc. report published last month looks at how those commuters affect the need for parking at office buildings. The report notes that in dense downtown office districts, workers are shifting to public transportation and alternate modes of getting around such as scooters, bicycles and walking. But those options are less viable in suburban office markets such as the San Fernando Valley. In the future, the report predicts the parking market will bifurcate – downtowns will need less parking, while suburban office markets will need more. The report found that currently in downtown L.A., office buildings have 1 parking space per 1,000 square feet of office space; by comparison in suburban L.A. markets, it’s 3.5 to 5 parking spots, tied with Dallas as the highest in the nation. “Higher-density office space usage in the suburbs will require increased parking for the suburban office market to remain relevant,” the report quotes one Trammell Crow Co. executive as saying. Ironically, even as central downtowns require fewer parking spaces, the monthly cost to rent a space is predicted to increase. Currently, the cost for an unreserved parking place in downtown L.A. ranges from $140 to $295, according to the report, while in the suburban L.A. market, the range is $85 to $195. “‘Urban-suburban’ properties that have many employees commuting via mass transit and in single-occupant vehicles present unique challenges,” the report states. “These buildings typically require a significant amount of parking … but may require less parking in the future.” – Joel Russell