Our Parking Industry®

Summary

Clyde Wilson interviews Dale Denda from Market Parking Research Company. Their discussion delves into large-scale infrastructure development, the effects of COVID-19 on various markets, and the growing demand for downtown urban residential spaces. It covers the adaptive reuse of office spaces and demographic shifts driving residential demand. The conversation also addresses the changing dynamics of downtown mobility, highlighting the rise of non-car dependent populations and the need for car-free and pedestrian zones. It examines the shift from urban to suburban living, challenges in downtown residential growth, and the importance of amenities in urban areas. The talk concludes with insights into demographic trends impacting the construction market and the revitalization of downtown areas, with Detroit as an example.

Takeaways

Infrastructure development is showing signs of recovery after the impact of COVID-19.

The downtown office market has been heavily impacted and is experiencing a longer-term decline.

There is a demand for downtown urban residential spaces, driven by a new generation of household creation.

Adaptive reuse of old office buildings for residential purposes is a potential solution, but cost concerns may slow down the process.

Downtown mobility has changed over the years, with a growing population and a shift towards non-car dependent lifestyles.

Population growth has led to a larger base of non-car dependent individuals, although they still represent a small percentage of the overall population.

Car-free zones and pedestrian-dominated areas are becoming more prevalent, but car dependency is still a reality in many cities.

The transition from compact urban living to suburban areas often leads to increased car dependency.

The construction market has been dominated by residential projects, driven by the rising demographic.

Chapters

00:00 Infrastructure Development on a Bigger Scale

01:00 Impacted Markets and Recovery

03:28 Renovation of Old Office Buildings

05:06 Demand for Urban Residential

07:04 Support Structures for Residential

08:02 Urban Setting and Residential Market

09:01 Demand for Downtown Urban Residential

09:59 Demographic Shift and Household Creation

11:24 Adaptive Reuse of Office Space

12:50 Changes in Urban Environment

13:19 Population Growth and Mobility

15:32 Downtown Mobility in the Past

16:34 Downtown Mobility in the Present

18:38 Change in Mobility with Population Growth

19:48 Car-Free Zones and Pedestrian Dominated Areas

20:45 Vehicle Miles Total and Car Dependency

21:35 Compact Transition Lifestyle and Car Dependency

22:33 Transitioning to Suburbs and Car Dependency

22:59 Impact of Downtown Residential Growth

23:56 Need for Amenities in Urban Residential Areas

24:55 Fluidity of the Current Situation

26:11 Rising Demographic and Construction Market

27:55 Vibrancy in Downtown Areas

28:43 Renewal and Changes in Detroit

Summary

In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, Clyde Wilson, Krista Olien, and Trina Tutor delve into the critical topic of safety and security in parking garages. They trace the evolution of these issues within the parking industry, highlighting both historical trends and current best practices. Emphasizing the dual importance of managing perceptions and enhancing actual safety, the discussion covers a range of key topics. These include optimal lighting practices, the influence of convenience on perceived safety, and the necessity for parking operators to offer additional services such as escorting customers to their cars. They also examine the role of technology in advancing safety and security measures in parking facilities.

Takeaways

Managing perception is crucial for improving the safety and security of parking garages.

Good lighting is essential for creating a safe environment in parking facilities.

Convenience, such as quick and efficient access to the garage, plays a role in a parker's perception of safety and security.

Parking operators should consider the specific needs and demographics of their clientele when implementing safety and security measures.

Technology, such as cameras and analytics, can greatly enhance safety and security in parking garages.

Providing additional services, such as walking customers to their cars, can differentiate parking operators and improve the perception of safety.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Managing Perception

03:45 The Blurred Line of Responsibility

06:19 Best Practices for Lighting

09:40 Entrance and Exit Lighting

12:26 Other Safety Features

21:48 The Role of Convenience

Summary

In this conversation, Bob Harkins, a former director of parking and transportation at two large university campuses, shares his experiences and insights into managing parking on college campuses. He discusses the challenges of dealing with building construction, managing transportation, allocating parking spaces, and handling special events. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships with campus departments and cultivating support. Bob also highlights the role of technology in parking management and the need for effective communication and problem-solving skills. Overall, his experiences demonstrate the complexity and importance of managing parking on university campuses.

Takeaways

Managing parking on university campuses is a complex and challenging task that requires involvement in various aspects of campus planning and operations.

Building relationships and cultivating support from campus departments, such as the police and physical plant departments, is crucial for successful parking management.

Technology plays a significant role in parking management, including license plate recognition systems and online payment systems.

Balancing the needs of different user groups, such as students, staff, and faculty, is a key challenge in campus parking management.

Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential for addressing issues and maintaining a positive relationship with the campus community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:13 The Economic Impact of Building Construction on Parking

03:07 Challenges in Managing Large Campuses

04:06 Balancing Parking Needs with Mass Transit

05:06 Allocating Parking Spaces for Different User Groups

05:34 The Importance of a Well-Managed Parking System

06:03 The Challenges of Managing Transportation

07:00 Dealing with Student Parking and Transportation

07:59 The Role of Buses in Campus Transportation

08:55 The Role of Technology in Campus Parking

09:20 Transitioning to Online Payment Systems

10:19 The Challenges of Event Parking

11:27 The Transition to Pay Online Credit Card Only

13:03 Managing Parking for Athletes and Staff

14:53 The Challenges of Managing a University Campus

16:31 The Importance of Involvement in Campus Construction

19:53 Managing Parking for Special Events

20:51 Managing RV Parking for High-Donor Events

23:19 Managing Traffic and Parking for Sporting Events

24:18 Parking Enforcement and Dealing with Tickets

26:14 Building Relationships and Cultivating Support

29:07 The Importance of Support from Police and Physical Plant Departments

30:42 The Role of Technology in Parking Management

36:43 The Importance of Communication and Problem-Solving

38:11 The Challenges of Equipment and Technology

42:23 The Importance of Parking's Role in Campus Planning

43:19 The Importance of Building Relationships and Cultivating Support

45:12 The Challenges of Equipment and Technology

46:50 The Importance of Financial Management and Technology

Summary

Sarah Blouch, President and CEO of CampusParc, shares her experience working in the parking industry, particularly in university parking systems. She discusses the challenges of managing a large campus, including transportation and event coordination. Sarah also talks about the transition from working in a university to the private enterprise side and the process of outsourcing parking. Overall, her insights highlight the unique complexities and responsibilities of managing parking on a college campus. This conversation explores the challenges and successes of transitioning parking management from a university to a private sector operator. The chapters cover topics such as the importance of relationships, the need for proactive planning and investment, the challenges of decision-making, the evolving role of data, the importance of effective communication and presentation, and the intersection of parking and infrastructure investment. The conversation highlights the need for adaptability and embracing change, as well as the ongoing challenges and goals for the future of parking management on campus.

Takeaways

Managing parking on a college campus involves addressing the unique challenges of a large and diverse community.

Coordinating transportation and events on campus requires proactive communication and collaboration with various departments.

Outsourcing parking can be a complex process that requires careful consideration and planning.

Parking managers play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of a campus parking system and addressing the needs of faculty, staff, and students. The success of transitioning parking management from a university to a private sector operator relies on maintaining strong relationships and cohesion within the campus community.

Proactive planning and investment are essential for long-term success in parking management, especially in the face of evolving technology and infrastructure needs.

Effective communication and presentation skills are crucial for conveying complex parking concepts to non-parking professionals and decision-makers.

The parking industry is increasingly reliant on data, and standardization and effective data management are key challenges for the future.

Adaptability and embracing change are necessary qualities for parking professionals, as the industry continues to evolve and face new challenges.

Summary

In this episode, Clyde Wilson shares a story from a parking audit where a simple mistake resulted in a significant revenue loss. The audit revealed that the majority of revenue loss in parking facilities is not due to theft, but rather to parking accounting and management mistakes. One example was a garage that failed to update their fee computer after a rate increase, resulting in a loss of $275,000 in 11 months. Another common mistake found in audits is the incorrect implementation of grace periods, leading to additional revenue loss. The role of auditors is to help facilities improve their operations and increase revenue.

Takeaways

The majority of revenue loss in parking facilities is not due to theft, but rather to parking accounting and management mistakes.

Simple mistakes, such as failing to update fee computers after rate increases or incorrectly implementing grace periods, can result in significant revenue loss.

Auditors play a crucial role in helping facilities improve their operations and increase revenue.

Parking facilities have many details to manage, including different rates for monthly parkers and transient customers, which can lead to mistakes.

Stories from the road provide valuable insights and knowledge that can be applied in the parking industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Parking Audit Business

01:17 Evolution into an Audit Company

04:13 A Costly Mistake: Failing to Update Fee Computers

06:11 The Importance of Auditing

07:38 The Discovery of a Revenue Loss

09:43 The Hidden Revenue Drain: Incorrect Grace Period Implementation

12:09 Managing the Details in Parking Facilities

14:23 The Role of Auditors in Improving Operations

15:42 Conclusion and Takeaways

Summary

The conversation explores the evolution of e-commerce in the parking industry, from its beginnings in 2011 to its current state. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the rise of e-commerce, as people sought contactless transactions and efficient parking solutions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration and open communication between property managers, operators, and e-commerce vendors to ensure the development of a successful and customer-centric product. The fees associated with e-commerce, both seen and unseen, are also discussed, highlighting the need for property owners to carefully evaluate the cost-benefit of using aggregators. The conversation concludes with a call for continued progress and improvement in the e-commerce space.

Keywords

e-commerce, parking industry, evolution, COVID-19, contactless transactions, collaboration, communication, fees, aggregators

Takeaways

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of e-commerce in the parking industry, as people sought contactless transactions and efficient parking solutions.

Collaboration and open communication between property managers, operators, and e-commerce vendors are crucial for the successful development of e-commerce solutions.

Property owners should carefully evaluate the cost-benefit of using aggregators and consider the fees associated with e-commerce.

The evolution of e-commerce in the parking industry is an ongoing process, and it is important to continue asking questions and seeking improvements.

The future of e-commerce in parking may involve real-time parking space availability and integration with vehicle technology.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to E-commerce in the Parking Industry

04:24The Impact of COVID-19 on E-commerce Adoption

10:39Customer Service in the E-commerce Reality

21:34Maximizing the Potential of E-commerce

Summary

The conversation delves into the auto industry's readiness for the EV market, focusing on plug-in and hybrid vehicles. It explores varying industry perspectives, consumer views, sales trends, and challenges with charging infrastructure. The complexity of EV charging, delays in federal programs, slow community fueling grants progress, battery development challenges, and potential dominance of hybrid vehicles are discussed. The role of private EV charging, purchaser perception, early adopters, and understanding the EV market within the parking industry are highlighted.

Takeaways

• The auto industry is preparing for the transition to electric vehicles, but there is a divide between plug-in and hybrid vehicles.
• Different automakers have varying attitudes towards plug-in and hybrid vehicles, with some favoring one over the other.
• Plug-in hybrids have the potential to bridge the gap between traditional internal combustion engines and fully electric vehicles.
• Consumer perception and sales of plug-in hybrids are currently limited, but there is potential for growth.
• Unrealistic projections for EV sales have led to a reevaluation of long-term prospects.
• Charging infrastructure remains a significant challenge for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
• The complexity of EV charging involves multiple factors, including public and home charging, and requires a nuanced approach to infrastructure development.
• The current state of charging infrastructure includes a significant number of public charging locations, but federal programs have experienced delays in expanding the network.
• Battery development is a key challenge for EV growth, and while there is confidence in technological improvements, the timeline for significant advancements is uncertain.
• Different scenarios for EV adoption exist, including the dominance of hybrid vehicles and the importance of a robust private EV charging sector.
• The perception of EV charging by purchasers and the role of early adopters play a significant role in the market's growth and acceptance.

Chapters

00:00 Auto Industry's Preparation for the EV Market

01:14 The Divide Between Plug-in and Hybrid Vehicles

05:23 The Potential of Plug-in Hybrids

06:28 Consumer Perception of Plug-in Hybrids

07:24 Sales Trends of EVs and Plug-in Hybrids

09:15 Rethinking Unrealistic Projections for EV Sales

11:13 Challenges with Charging Infrastructure

12:24 Understanding the Complexity of EV Charging

13:35 Current State of Charging Infrastructure

15:31 Challenges in EV Growth

17:13 Battery Development

18:01 Uncertainty in Battery Technology

20:31 Scenarios for EV Adoption

22:51 Importance of Private EV Charging Sector

24:21 Long Timeframe for EV Adoption

25:41 Purchaser Issues and Perception of EV Charging

32:47 Message to the Parking Industry

Summary

In this conversation, Clyde Wilson and Krista Olien discuss the topic of electric vehicles (EVs) and the parking industry's involvement in the charging business. They explore the current state of EVs, the challenges and opportunities for parking facilities, and the future of EV technology. They also touch on the concept of Moore's Law and its application to EV development. The conversation highlights the need for caution and strategic planning in the parking industry's approach to EV charging.

Keywords

electric vehicles, EVs, parking industry, charging business, hybrid vehicles, EV development, Moore's Law

Takeaways

The parking industry is exploring the opportunity to enter the EV charging business as a way to generate additional revenue.

The current phase of EV development is still in the early adopter stage, and charging times and battery range are continuously improving.

The cost of charging at work may be higher than charging at home, leading to a lower demand for workplace charging stations in the future.

Gas stations are likely to enter the EV charging market once charging times decrease and the technology becomes more widespread.

Plug-in hybrids are another category of vehicles to consider, as they have smaller batteries and may require workplace charging.

The parking industry needs to be cautious and adapt to the evolving EV landscape, considering factors such as maintenance, infrastructure, and government regulations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Electric Vehicles and the Parking Industry

06:00 The Potential Entry of Gas Stations into the EV Charging Market

12:59 Moore's Law and its Application to EV Development

23:58 The Role of Plug-in Hybrids in the EV Landscape

Summary

In this episode, Clyde Wilson shares his experience of getting into the parking industry and his first day on the job. He talks about how he stumbled upon a job opportunity at Central Parking System and how he initially had reservations about working in the parking industry. Clyde recounts his first day as the operations manager of the Nashville office, where he had to train valet attendants without any prior experience. He also shares a memorable encounter with a fellow employee named Nubby, who helped him navigate his first day. Despite the challenges, Clyde has continued to work in the parking industry and contribute to its modernization.

Takeaways

Opportunities in the parking industry often arise unexpectedly, and many people enter the industry by chance.

The parking industry has undergone significant changes over the years, with attendant parking being a customary practice in the past.

Training and onboarding processes in the parking industry can vary, and new employees may have to learn on the job.

Building relationships with colleagues and learning from experienced employees can be invaluable in navigating the parking industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Getting into the Parking Industry

03:00 Attendant Parking in the 50s and 60s

06:41 Discovering Central Parking System

10:14 Joining Central Parking System

11:43 First Day on the Job

13:08 Meeting Nubby

19:32 Checking on Nubby

21:48 Conclusion

Summary

In this episode, Clyde Wilson discusses his parking rules to live by. He explains that the basics of the parking business can be simplified to the statement 'we sell a parking space for time.' He developed these rules to live by based on his experience in the industry and the need for guidelines to help parking managers. The three rules are: 1) Parking is an on the streets business, 2) Get the tickets on the cars and the money in the bank, and 3) Know your numbers.

Takeaways

The parking business is about selling a parking space for time.

Parking managers need to be on the streets and understand their customers' needs.

Recording transactions and tracking revenue are essential in the parking business.

Knowing and analyzing key numbers can help managers improve their operations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Basics of the Parking Business

02:01 Development of the Rules to Live By

06:13 Rule 1: Parking is an On the Streets Business

06:47 Rule 2: Get the Tickets on the Cars and the Money in the Bank

11:27 Rule 3: Know Your Numbers