What to do with all these parking spaces in cities when we have self-driving cars

• Chicago has over 35,000 metered parking spaces, underscoring the magnitude of the city's parking footprint (Chicago DOT).

• Along with the reduction in people coming downtown into ‘work’, as a result of the post-covid reality we are all now facing and the drop in occupancy in office spaces, an oft ignored element is the issue of all the parking spaces that are now left fallow in our city downtown areas. Before COVID you had to book a parking spot ahead of time and, especially in a place like Chicago, pray that your car does not get towed even after you’ve paid the necessary parking fee. It was quite expected that you would get towed at least once or twice a month if you braved a drive downtown to hang out or meet up with friends. No more. Now you get your choice of spots.

• Architectural marvels rise from Chicago's shores, casting reflections over Lake Michigan. Yet, amidst this urban grandeur, vast parking spaces question land utilization. In a city that birthed the skyscraper, a novel vision of Convertible Parking Zones forms — spaces that serve as green parks by day and bustling community hubs by night. Chicago's tale illustrates that in every unused space, there's potential for community, nature, and innovation.

• The conflict between land utilization and sprawling parking spaces in the heart of cities. How do cities efficiently use space in an era of changing transportation needs?