Tristan:

Has this shown up yet in the Policy Manual or only in the LEED Interpretation dated May 9, 2011 as you've cited?

This is unforutnate since motor vehicles aren't going away anytime soon, as much as we'd like to think otherwise.

The thoughtful and creative sustainable strategies extended to the design of parking structures can significantly REDUCE the impact of vehicles on the environment and WHY shouldn't they receive the same certification opportunities? Why should the structure itself be penalized for what is housed within it?

Let me give you an example: we received certification for the BCBSM parking structure project in Detroit in 2007. On the same site that previously accomodated only 125 surface parking spaces, we constructed a parking structure that provides for over 1800 spaces ON THE SAME SITE! Talk about density and the ability to maintain open land for other Civic/landscaping opportunities! We also installed the 2nd-largest green roof in the State of Michigan on top of this deck in order to not only provide an area for a walking track for BCBSM's employees, but also to assist in our overall storm water catchment system which is considerable!

Why shouldn't these same strategies that apply for other (non-parking) structures NOT earn certification for these structures!

We are so disappointed! Is this written in stone?

I see a wave of backlash coming!

If what you say is true, there is no motiviation in the industry to make these structures anything other than dumb-boxes.