How Lack of Parking Can Cost Developers and Their Tenants Millions: Lessons from San Jose’s Vietnam Town
When San Jose’s Vietnam Town lost access to its 550-space parking garage in 2023, the results were devastating. Restaurant owners watched their businesses hemorrhage money as customers couldn’t find parking. One business reported a $500,000 year-to-year revenue loss, while another saw sales drop by 50%. The situation spiraled into a $7+ million lawsuit against property management, aggressive towing practices that scared away customers, and genuine fears of permanent business closures.
This isn’t just a local news story: it’s a wake-up call for developers everywhere. Poor parking management doesn’t just inconvenience customers; it can destroy the financial viability of entire commercial properties and devastate tenant relationships. But here’s the thing: this crisis was entirely preventable with modern automated parking solutions.
One business reported a $500,000 year-to-year revenue loss, while another saw sales drop by 50% because of the lack of adequate parking. The Automated Parking Company OEM has the solutions
The Real Cost of Inadequate Parking: Vietnam Town’s Cautionary Tale
Vietnam Town’s parking nightmare began when inspectors discovered defective elevators in the main parking garage, forcing its closure. With construction equipment eating up additional spaces and a Tesla supercharging station claiming 20 more spots, the perfect storm hit this popular dining destination.
The financial damage was immediate and brutal. Pho This Way, one of the area’s restaurants, saw sales plummet by 50%. Another business owner documented a staggering $500,000 annual revenue loss. But the money wasn’t just disappearing: it was actively being driven away by aggressive towing practices. One customer got towed within 18 minutes of parking in a 15-minute loading zone and was charged $510 to get their car back.
Restaurant owners quickly realized that word travels fast in the digital age. Online reviews started mentioning the parking nightmare, and potential customers began avoiding the area altogether. As one business owner put it, the towing incidents “scared customers away from Vietnam Town.” When you’re running a restaurant, every lost customer represents lost revenue that’s nearly impossible to recover.
The Hidden Costs Developers Never See Coming
For property developers and owners, Vietnam Town’s crisis reveals how quickly parking problems can escalate into major financial liabilities. The merchants didn’t just complain: they filed a $7+ million lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and misuse of the $400-500 monthly HOA fees each tenant pays.
San Jose’s code enforcement department got involved, ordering Vietnam Town to remove barricades and address violations by September 2026. Meanwhile, the property faces ongoing legal costs, potential damages, and a reputation crisis that will likely impact future leasing efforts.
Lack of parking should not be ignored by Property Owners and Property Managers. One business in San Jose, California reported a $500,000 year-to-year revenue loss, while another saw sales drop by 50% because of the lack of adequate parking. The Automated Parking Company OEM has the solutions. Contact Us For A Free Consultation (877) 827-2611
This situation perfectly illustrates the hidden costs of inadequate parking infrastructure:
Lost tenant revenue leading to potential defaults or early lease terminations
Legal liability from tenant lawsuits and code enforcement actions
Reputational damage that makes future leasing more difficult
Ongoing maintenance costs for aging parking infrastructure
Customer acquisition challenges for tenants due to access issues
Why Traditional Parking Infrastructure Fails
Vietnam Town’s garage failure highlights a critical weakness in traditional parking structures: they’re complex mechanical systems that require constant maintenance. Elevators break down, ramps crack, and electrical systems fail. When they do, the entire parking operation can shut down overnight.
Modern developers face an impossible equation. San Jose eliminated minimum parking requirements in 2022, allowing developers to save $35,000 to $100,000 per parking space by not building them. But as Vietnam Town proves, the long-term costs of inadequate parking can far exceed those upfront savings.
Traditional parking garages also waste enormous amounts of space. The typical parking garage requires drive lanes, ramps, turning radii, and buffer zones that can consume up to 60% of the total footprint. In high-value urban areas, this represents millions of dollars in lost development potential.
Traditional parking garages also waste enormous amounts of space. The typical parking garage requires drive lanes, ramps, turning radii, and buffer zones that can consume up to 60% of the total footprint. In high-value urban areas, this represents millions of dollars in lost development potential. Call The Automated Parking Company For A Free Consultation (877) 827-2611
How Automated Parking Could Have Prevented This Crisis
Vietnam Town’s parking disaster was entirely preventable with modern automated parking technology. Instead of relying on aging elevators and complex mechanical systems, automated parking solutions use proven mechanical systems designed for high-volume, reliable operation.
Here’s how automated parking could have avoided Vietnam Town’s problems:
Redundancy and Reliability: Unlike traditional garages that shut down completely when elevators fail, puzzle parking systems and stackers can operate with individual bays temporarily offline. If one mechanical unit needs maintenance, the rest continue operating normally.
Space Efficiency: Automated systems can double or triple parking capacity in the same footprint. Vietnam Town could have maintained adequate parking even with construction and Tesla charging stations taking up surface spaces.
Simplified Maintenance: Modern automated parking systems have fewer failure points than traditional garages. There are no complex elevator systems, no multi-level concrete structures to maintain, and no lighting or ventilation systems for multiple floors.
Future-Proof Design: Automated parking systems are easily configured for EV charging integration, ensuring the investment remains valuable as electric vehicles become standard.
The ROI Case for Automated Parking Solutions
For developers considering automated parking, the numbers are compelling. Maximizing space with parking stackers can increase parking capacity by 100-200% in the same footprint, while puzzle systems can achieve even higher densities.
Consider Vietnam Town’s situation: if automated parking had doubled their effective parking capacity, they could have maintained adequate customer access even with the garage closure. Those businesses wouldn’t have lost $500,000+ in revenue, the property wouldn’t be facing a $7 million lawsuit, and tenants would be renewing leases instead of considering relocations.
The math is straightforward:
Increased tenant retention due to reliable parking access
Higher rental rates for properties with adequate parking
Reduced legal liability from parking-related disputes
Lower long-term maintenance costs compared to traditional garages
Enhanced property value from maximized land use efficiency
The Automated Parking Company specializes in proven parking solutions designed for the exact challenges that destroyed Vietnam Town’s parking ecosystem. Our systems are engineered for reliability, efficiency, and long-term value creation.
Stacker Systems: Perfect for smaller properties that need to maximize existing space. These systems literally stack cars vertically, doubling capacity without expanding the footprint.
Puzzle Parking: Ideal for medium-density applications where cars can be moved horizontally and vertically to maximize storage. These systems provide excellent capacity increases with minimal complexity.
Robotic Systems: For high-density urban applications, fully automated robotic parking provides maximum space efficiency with minimal operational complexity.
Each solution addresses the core problems that created Vietnam Town’s crisis: reliable access, efficient space usage, and predictable long-term operations.
Traditional parking garages waste enormous amounts of space. The typical parking garage requires drive lanes, ramps, turning radii, and buffer zones that can consume up to 60% of the total footprint. In high-value urban areas, this represents millions of dollars in lost development potential. Vertical Lift Parking System OEM, The Automated Parking Company can design and build you more parking using less space. Call (877) 827-2611 For A Free Consultation
Planning for the Future
Vietnam Town’s parking crisis offers valuable lessons for developers planning future projects. The traditional approach of building minimum code-required parking and hoping for the best no longer works in today’s competitive market.
The future belongs to properties that can adapt to changing needs while maintaining reliable operations. Automated parking systems provide that flexibility while protecting against the kind of catastrophic failures that destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars in tenant revenue at Vietnam Town.
Taking Action Before Crisis Strikes
Vietnam Town’s story doesn’t have to be your story. The technology exists today to prevent parking-related business failures, tenant lawsuits, and reputation damage. The question isn’t whether you can afford to invest in modern parking solutions: it’s whether you can afford not to.
The Automated Parking Company works with developers to design parking solutions that maximize ROI while protecting tenant relationships. Our systems are proven, reliable, and designed to deliver decades of trouble-free operation.
Don’t wait for a parking crisis to threaten your investment. Contact us today to discover how automated parking can transform your development’s efficiency, profitability, and long-term value.
Raising Parking Solutions to New Heights
Automated & Innovative Parking Solutions
The Automated Parking Company is a US based turnkey firm that designs, manufactures, installs, and services a full suite of products: automated, semi-automated, and attendant oriented solutions. Our design solutions have proven to reduce parking footprints and lower build cost when compared to traditional parking schemes.
As a fully integrated OEM of automated, puzzle and mechanical parking systems provider, we deliver end-to-end solutions—from design consulting and manufacturing to installation and post-construction support—ensuring total quality control and exceptional client satisfaction.
Whether your project calls for fully robotic parking systems, mechanical stackers, or space-efficient puzzle systems, our team tailors every design to your site conditions, architectural vision, and budget goals.
Recognized as one of the most innovative and experienced teams in the industry, we merge engineering precision, automation expertise, and proven reliability to maximize efficiency, profitability, and user experience.
Let’s rethink what’s possible—Build more. Store more. Maximize your space.
De-Risk Your Parking Strategy with a FREE $5,000 Design Review Credit
If you connect with us, The Automated Parking Company, will provide a FREE in-depth design review, normally valued at $5,000; to assess feasibility, optimize layouts, and align your parking solution with project goals.
When you proceed with us, the full design review fee is credited back to the project, ensuring your early-stage diligence directly supports execution—not overhead.
A disciplined approach to smarter parking investment.
📞 Call Us for a FREE parking design review, valued at $5,000: (877) 827-2611
Traditional parking garages waste enormous amounts of space. The typical parking garage requires drive lanes, ramps, turning radii, and buffer zones that can consume up to 60% of the total footprint. In high-value urban areas, this represents millions of dollars in lost development potential. Vertical Lift Parking System OEM, The Automated Parking Company can design and build you more parking using less space. Call (877) 827-2611 For A Free Consultation
We value community input and address concerns for harmonious solutions.
Research & Innovation
Continuous research and innovation to improve green parking solutions.
Our Step By Step Process Towards Building Smart Yet Sustainable Parking
At TAPCO, our process ensures seamless delivery of efficient and sustainable parking tech tailored to your evolving project needs.
01
Discovery & Consultation:
Understand your needs, site constraints, and objectives.
02
Customized Design:
Create a tailored parking solution with eco-friendly integration.
03
Project Approval & Collaboration:
Obtain necessary approvals and work closely with your team.
04
Manufacturing & Quality Control:
Ensure the highest standards of quality.
05
Timely Delivery & Installation:
On-time setup with minimal disruptions.
06
Thorough Testing & Commissioning:
Rigorous performance checks and safety adherence.
07
Training & Support:
Comprehensive staff training and ongoing maintenance services.
08
Environmental Responsibility:
Implement eco-friendly practices and sustainability monitoring.
09
Client Satisfaction:
Prioritize your project with any number of our solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can TAPCO’s solutions be tailored to our specific needs?
A: Absolutely! At TAPCO, we understand that every project is unique. Our experienced team of designers and engineers will work closely with you to understand your specific requirements, site constraints, and objectives.
Q: How many levels can The Automated Parking Company design for the Puzzle parking system?
A: The Automated Parking Company has the capability to design systems with 2 to 7 levels, accommodating a varying number of parking spaces. Moreover, if your project calls for additional space optimization, we can even incorporate one or two subterranean levels, effectively increasing the total parking capacity.
Q: Are TAPCO’s parking systems safe and reliable?
A: Yes, safety is our top priority at TAPCO. We adhere to stringent industry safety standards and conduct rigorous testing and quality control measures at every stage of the manufacturing process.
Our car parking solutions are designed and built to ensure the safety of users, vehicles, and your property. We use high-quality materials and employ advanced technology to ensure the reliability and durability of our parking systems.
Improving Parking Convenience with Parking Stackers
When it comes to parking solutions, attended-oriented systems offer a blend of efficiency and convenience that cater to the needs and challenges of urban areas, particularly high-demand areas.
These multi-level car stacker solutions are a game-changer when it comes to parking, allowing the creation of multiple parking spaces within a single area.
TAPCO introduces a wide array of innovative attended-oriented parking systems designed to optimize space utilization as well as offer user-friendly parking practices.
These systems are intended to provide a seamless parking experience and enable attendants to efficiently manage parking procedures while ensuring the convenience and safety of the users. Here are the key benefits of using attended-oriented parking systems.
Optimal Space Utilisation
Our attended-oriented parking systems incorporate car lift storage systems make optimal use of the available space. Vertical stacking of vehicles with the vertical storage lift enables the system to increase the parking capacity within a limited area, hence coping with the increasing parking demands.
Organised vertical stacking
The attended-oriented parking allows vertical stacking of vehicles to utilize a vertical space effectively. This approach reduces the area required for parking, thereby contributing to a more organized and aesthetically pleasant-looking parking facility.
Convenience
The attended-oriented parking system offers ease of use for the attendant as well as the user. While the attendant can successfully navigate the car stacker lift and swiftly move vehicles into a nesting position with minimal effort, users need little to no guidance to park their vehicles safely.
Enhanced Security
Our attended-oriented car stacking system comes with advanced features to ensure the safety of parked vehicles. While users have peace of mind, property managers can also be content with the knowledge that the facility is secure.
Versatile stacked car parking
We offer a variety of car stacker lift solutions. From four post car storage lifts to no post solutions, our systems can be implemented indoors as well as outdoors and can be adapted for various project requirements or property layouts. TAPCO’s attended-oriented parking systems can be used in various environments, from commercial establishments to residential complexes.
Revolutionary Parking Solutions with Automated Lift Parking System
As the urban landscape continues to grow, the demand for efficient car parking solutions has become increasingly important. TAPCO introduces revolutionary semi-automated smart parking systems that are designed to optimise space utilization and streamline parking procedures for multi-family residential complexes and commercial facilities. Compared to the conventional car lift system, our multi level car parks are designed to redefine convenience and efficiency.
Here are some of the key features of our semi-automated car parking systems
Space Optimization
Optimal space utilization is a key focus of our multi-level car storing solutions. Our stack parking systems are designed to accommodate multiple levels, providing an impressive number of parking spaces within a compact footprint. We can design and integrate two to seven parking levels in a single structure and customize varying lengths, widths, and heights.
Seamless Automation
Our smart parking system incorporates advanced automation to simplify the parking process. Drivers can effortlessly park their vehicles with minimum guidance, thereby providing efficient utilization of time.
EV Capability
Given the increasing trend of electric vehicles, our parking solutions are also designed to embrace the future of mobility and Electric Vehicles. To cater to the ever-evolving automotive landscape, we also feature charging facilities for electric cars. We are the only vendor offering 7000# rated systems.
Convenience
We understand that parking can be a source of frustration for people, particularly when you cannot find a spot and have to drive around looking for space. Such layouts can be problematic for larger properties. However, with our Puzzle Parking system, this problem can be easily resolved, offering convenience to individuals and saving valuable time when parking or capturing your auto.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between a fully automated and semi-automated smart parking system?
A: Semi-automated Puzzle solutions and fully automated AGV parking systems are considered automated parking and compress footprints giving you back valuable square footage.
In a semi-automated parking system, drivers can park and/or retrieve their own auto, so this system rids you of any demand for parking attendants therefore lowering your OpEx. Once the users vehicle is stowed within the system, the semi-automated Puzzle system can move the car up and down or left to right to find its nesting space.
On the other hand, in a fully-automated parking system, the driver pulls into a loading bay where they remove themselves and leave their auto, the system will then maneuver the auto and autonomously stow the users auto within the parking vault.
Q: What is the difference between mechanical lift systems and semi-automated Puzzle Parking systems?
A: In a mechanical stacker system, individuals must operate for it to move, or you must incorporate attendants to manage the parking and retrieval process.. The mechanical stacker parking system is usually a Double, Triple, or Quad Stacker that can raise the vehicle directly up on the platform so that more than one vehicle can be parked in a vertical stack. We strongly encourage trained personnel to operate these systems due to the manual processes of storing or retrieving autos in a vertical arrangement.
On the other hand, in a semi-automated system, there is no demand nor need for attendants or personnel to retrieve autos. Once the driver has parked their vehicle within the system, the semi-automated Puzzle system can intelligently move the car up and down or left to right.
Q: Which properties are semi-automated parking systems suitable for?
A: Our semi-automated parking systems are mostly suitable and used for commercial office and multi-family residential complexes.
Q: Can electric cars be charged in semi-automated parking systems?
A: Absolutely, our semi-automated smart parking systems are EV capable and feature charging facilities for electric vehicles. We offer Level II smart charging capabilities that allow you to bill the user pro-rata and also reduce the number of electrical meters therefore reducing your overall build costs when compared to competitive vendors.
Q: What are the maintenance requirements of semi-automated parking systems?
A: Maintenance and upkeep of the parking systems by The Automated Parking Company are easy as they are designed for minimal maintenance and durability. However, please note that regular checks and maintenance schedules help ensure optimal performance.
