Our cities are changing rapidly. Many urban centers are densifying, with infill and high-rise developments using up vacant land. Much of that space had been given over to parking lots because it was an easy and cheap fix for the car culture. Large lots often generated more revenue than a building.

But population pressures are now forcing cities to use their vacant and under-utilized land more economically. The revenues generated from those old parking lots don’t match the profits that can be made from high-rise condominium or commercial development. In addition, there is a growing disdain in city planning departments for the waste of space that characterizes parking lots, and the automatic parking car culture it promotes. Green, walkable cities are the best, and urban pedestrians don’t want to waste time skirting large parking lots.

With the loss of traditional parking lots comes the rise of a new phenomenon: the automated parking lift garage. These are still more common in Europe, which has long had to juggle the needs to park cars with limited urban space. In fact, Paris built its first vertical, automated lot in 1905. But they are now catching on in North America.

The pressure to park cars in a more economical, profitable way is also paralleled in inner city residential areas. Front pad parking is increasingly seen as environmentally destructive, as it covers green space. But people still want and need their cars and, again, the solution to parking pressures can now be found in small-scale residential parking lifts.

The kind of parking equipment employed can be unique to the building or parcel of land available. What parking lift garages have in common is the ability of drivers to park their car, and have it safely and quickly moved to a stacked-storage area. Parking Lifts can also return the car efficiently to the driver.

The new move to replace traditional lots with automated parking lift spaces can be safe, convenient and profitable.