We are working on a residential condominium project where below ground parking "spaces" will be sold separately from the units. For purposes of compactness, indoor parking lifts will be used with a valet, so a purchased space is not a specific spot, but rather a "held" space within the garage. We are weighing the various options for complying with this credit.
Since the spaces are not rented, is it acceptable that spaces be sold to owners of low emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles at a 20% discount from the standard rate? Also, once the space is sold, how can it be verified that the owner did not change their vehicle?
If we choose to comply with the alternative-fuel station option, is there any issue in combining the charging stations with a parking lift, as long as we can attest to the fact that the valet is able to park the vehicle such that it can be charged?
Thanks
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1976 thumbs up
December 7, 2011 - 6:56 pm
Hi Ilana,
The 20% discount on purchasing access to a parking spot sounds reasonable and in keeping with the credit intent & requirements.
Not sure how best to ensure the discount only applies to specific, eligible vehicles - perhaps the purchase & sale agreement needs to include this in the language. Are the "spaces" associated with a particular owner, no matter what they're driving, or a particular vehicle? How would valet staff normally know whether an arriving car or driver is has parking privileges? Could a specific number of spaces and lifts closest to the entry or drop-off point be clearly marked as reserved for low emitting vehicles? That might reduce the chances of gaming the system, and makes sense if they are combined with charging stations. If the garage is big enough, and the placement makes these spaces are quicker to access by the valets, they might provide a genuine benefit as "priority spaces." It's quite a rubik's cube given the cost of underground parking and the need to maximize the number of spaces within a limited area.