A conversation between Steve Sumell, Executive Vice President – Portfolio, Trademark, and Jerry Marcus, President & Owner, The Parking Advisory Group.
While it may seem like a less glamorous aspect of planning mixed-use and retail-places, new technology has enabled parking to become a make-or-break amenity when it comes to customer experience. When factoring in the rise of ride- sharing, growing population density and evolving public transportation, how can developers ensure that parking needs are efficiently met while building for future technology, like self-driving cars?
Trademark Executive Vice President Steve Sumell recently hosted a conversation with Jerry Marcus, President and Owner of The Parking Advisory Group, and one of the leading experts in the field of parking design and management.The two discuss the current parking struggles they see properties facing and some of the unexpected solutions reached to free up curb space.
Steve: Jerry, tell me about your background and history with the parking industry. How did you get into the industry initially, and what caused you to stay in it as long as you have?
Jerry: Well, I’ve been in the industry a long time – 40 years. I started as an attendant. I was looking for a way to pay for college. It’s not a profession that people look to get into, but I kind of fell into it. After 34 years in parking management with APCOA Parking and Walter P Moore, it wound up being my career and I haven’t looked back.
Steve: That’s great. Before we get into some of the theoretical discussions about the future of parking, and where parking demand is headed and so forth, let’s talk about the here and now. Could you discuss the issues at one of Trademark’s properties in Houston, Rice Village, and how you helped us solve them?
Jerry: Rice Village was…