The Discretionary Review - Books that Build

How Parking Drives the Housing Crisis ("Paved Paradise" by Henry Grabar)

In "Paved Paradise" by Henry Grabar, we explore how arbitrary parking requirements often make housing more expensive or prevent housing from being built at all. Joining us is Tony Jordan, founder of the Parking Reform Network , who is a subject of the book and talks to us about it. To get updates about Books that Build and a chance for advanced copies and free books, join our email list: https://www.how-to-adu.com/sub Audio book for Paved Paradise (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/4cOxzR3eBcUhTqsfSNnPgm Audio book for High Cost of Free Parking (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/7LM6rWafJcvb0aZeWDjLvh Order the book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/paved-paradise-how-parking-explains-the-world-henry-grabar/18727296?ean=9781984881151 [https://bookshop.org/p/books/paved-paradise-how-parking-explains-the-world-henry-grabar/18727296?ean=9781984881151] Join the Parking Reform Network: https://parkingreform.org/ Grabar's book reveals the hidden costs of "free" parking - from increased housing costs to environmental damage, from struggling small businesses to less walkable cities. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, he shows how minimum parking requirements have reshaped our urban landscape, often at the expense of affordability and livability. Tony Jordan brings his expertise from the frontlines of parking reform, sharing success stories of cities that have eliminated parking minimums and the resulting benefits for housing development and community vitality. We explore how these changes have opened up new possibilities for addressing the housing crisis and creating more vibrant neighborhoods. We delve into the fascinating history of how American cities became dominated by parking requirements, from the post-war boom to today's reform movement. The conversation reveals how these policies were created with good intentions but have led to unintended consequences that we're still grappling with today. The book and our discussion challenge common assumptions about parking, showing how better management of this valuable urban resource can help create more affordable, sustainable, and livable communities. We explore innovative solutions being implemented across the country and discuss what the future might hold as cities evolve and transportation patterns change. Whether you're a housing advocate, an urban planner, or simply someone interested in how cities work, this episode offers fresh insights into one of the most overlooked aspects of urban development. Join us as we explore how rethinking parking could help solve our housing challenges and create better cities for everyone. This episode bridges the gap between housing policy and transportation planning, showing how these interconnected systems shape our communities and affect our daily lives. Through Grabar's research and Jordan's practical experience, we see both the challenges and opportunities in transforming our approach to parking.

How Natural Disasters Cause a Housing Crisis ("The Great Displacement" by Jake Bittle)

In "The Great Displacement" by Jake Bittle, we explore a startling future: over 20 million Americans forced to move due to climate change and natural disasters. This isn't just about environmental shifts—it's about the future of housing in America. To get updates about Books that Build and a chance for advanced copies and free books, join our email list: https://www.how-to-adu.com/sub Bittle takes us on a journey through diverse American towns and cities already experiencing this migration. From the Florida Keys to Kinston, North Carolina, Santa Rosa, California to Houston, Texas, we witness communities grappling with sudden disasters and slow, steady changes that reshape lives. The book reveals a dark irony: people move to avoid disasters, only to find new threats in their chosen havens. Take Asheville, North Carolina—once seen as a refuge, now facing unprecedented flooding. Bittle uncovers two critical themes: 1. The urgent need to address climate change, as we're already seeing its devastating effects. 2. The complex web of housing policies exacerbating these issues. We explore how disasters expose and amplify economic inequalities, accelerating gentrification and forcing difficult choices about community resilience. Federal policies, local spending decisions, and insurance practices all play crucial roles in determining who can rebuild and who must leave. From FEMA's flood insurance policies to the Army Corps of Engineers' decisions on levy reinforcement, we see how government choices shape the fate of entire neighborhoods. The book also delves into the ethical quandaries of "managed retreat" and the challenges of maintaining affordable housing in disaster-prone areas. "The Great Displacement" is a wake-up call for both environmentalists and housing advocates. It bridges the gap between these often-separate discussions, showing how intimately linked they are in shaping our future communities. Whether you're a housing policy wonk curious about environmental issues or an eco-warrior wanting to understand housing dynamics, this book offers invaluable insights into one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Join us as we unpack Bittle's findings and discuss how we can build more resilient, equitable communities in the face of climate change. The future of our cities depends on it.