Paved Paradise

Ever wonder why a “simple” parking spot can decide what gets built on your block, how long your commute takes, or whether your favorite cafe survives? We sit down with Henry Grabar, author of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, for a live episode recording that reveals how curb space, parking minimums, and meter policy quietly shape housing, transit, local business, and city budgets. Henry takes us from the horse‑and‑wagon era to modern dynamic pricing, connecting the dots between what seems like a technical detail and the urban life we all experience. If you care about vibrant neighborhoods, small business turnover, housing options, or safer, greener travel, this is a candid, myth‑busting look at the hidden system running beneath every city. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who swears there’s “never any parking”—then tell us how your city should use one block of curb. Show Notes:Further Reading: Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City by Jorge Almazán, Joe McReynoldsSaving America"s Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age by Lizabeth CohenShade: the Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource by Sam BlochTo view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/ Follow us on social media for more content related to each episode: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/booked-on-planning/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookedPlanning Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookedonplanning Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookedonplanning/