New York City, known for tiny apartments with astronomical rents has a similar space problem when it comes to parking. Too many cars, not enough space. The developers of the Chinatown Garage think they have found a solution made possible by technology.
Driver’s park their car on a movable pallet and the computer takes over, shuffling the car around the parking lot like gum through a vending machine. A humanoid lot attendant will be in place to accept your $25 a day or $400 a month. The space that used to hold only 24 cars now contains 67, with only the removal of a ramp.
While this technology has been in use in the east for years, it is new to North America. The only other such machine in the States has been plagued with dropped cars and a shutdown due to a software ownership battle.
$400 a month actually isn’t too bad a price to pay for a clean, secure parking spot in the city – all things considered.
The problem with having a car in Manhattan isn’t the money, it’s the convenience factor. Inevitably the garage you really want to trust your car to is a cab-ride away from wherever you happen to be.
The hot setup is the best of both worlds – a very cool loft space with an indoor vehicle elevator to take you and your car straight to your living space.
now that would be cool! wasn’t there a tv character in the 80’s that parked his car in his living room?