Garages and driveways
aren’t just for parking
Deirdre Pfeiffer Associate Professor ASU School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning
Background
Maricopa County has unused car infrastructure, like garages in residential areas. With rising issues like housing costs and extreme heat, these spaces offer adaptive solutions.
Research questions
How are Maricopa County’s residential garages and driveways used?
Can they be repurposed to address housing and heat challenges?
What barriers exist, and how can they
be tackled?
Methods and findings
We analyzed interviews with county leaders and experts on housing and heat. Additionally, local regulations, including HOA rules and zoning codes, were studied. Residents use these spaces not just for parking but for storage, socializing, and more.
Experts see potential for housing and greening adaptations, but local rules pose significant restrictions.
Impact
This study sparks dialogue on leveraging residential garages and driveways to address Maricopa County’s key challenges.
Deliverables
Pfeiffer is devising a visual guide on adapting these spaces, showcasing their current and potential uses, stakeholders, and barriers. They aim to publish their insights in a journal to inspire nationwide adaptation for community betterment and resilience.
Deirdre Pfeiffer
Associate Professor ASU School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning
Community Fellow, 2023
Deirdre Pfeiffer focuses on housing strategies for social equity, the relationship between housing and health, and the impacts of housing market disruptions. As Principal Investigator of the Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES), she leads research on housing security, climate, and health in the Southwest. Pfeiffer's work explores how spaces like garages and driveways can address issues like affordability, social isolation, and extreme heat. She also investigates the neighborhood built environment's influence on subjective well-being and the role of racial code words in housing opposition. Pfeiffer teaches housing planning and policy, co-created a course on Zoning for Equity, and has been recognized for teaching excellence. She actively engages with the community, serving on various boards and as Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Urban Affairs.
Collaborator: Rababe Saadaoui, ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning