Finding 01
66 percent occupancy, counted in person
Observation
A demand that size argues scarcity. JDE's own occupancy counts put the garage at 66 percent. A third of the asset sat empty while its price was asked to roughly double.
Case study
A Los Angeles parking rate dispute: a 74 to 105 percent demand, answered by counting the garage
66%
Counted occupancy at the garage
$125 to $145
Documented fair market value
74% to 105%
Rate increase demanded
Asset
Garage at a downtown Los Angeles office tower
Scope
Occupancy counts and market comparables to establish fair market value against a 74 to 105 percent rate increase demand
JDE role
Independent expert for the tenant
The assignment
The landlord of a downtown Los Angeles office tower demanded parking rate increases of 74 to 105 percent from a healthcare tenant, a demand carrying roughly $660K to $790K a year. The tenant retained JDE as its independent expert to establish what the parking was actually worth. JDE did not open with comparables; it went to the garage and counted.
The findings
Finding 02
The roof advertised more than 300 empty spaces
Observation
While the rate demand argued premium demand, the building's own rooftop billboard was advertising more than 300 empty spaces. JDE photographed it. The asset's marketing and the asset's rate demand could not both be true.
Finding 03
Fair market at $125 to $145
Observation
On counted occupancy and market comparables, JDE documented fair market value at $125 to $145.
Exposure
Demanded increases of 74 to 105 percent, roughly $660K to $790K a year
What changed
The dispute stopped being an exchange of opinions and became an argument about counts. The tenant negotiated from documented occupancy, a photograph of the landlord's own advertising, and a fair market range computed from the market rather than asserted at it. JDE's numbers were not purchased data. They were counts made in person, defensible line by line.
Verified
The verification is the re-retention. In 2020 the tenant's side brought JDE back for a second round, this time under privilege: comparables then sat at $198.20 while the garage sat at 11 percent occupancy, and the same counting discipline applied. An expert gets hired once on a referral. Twice is a verdict on the first file.
- Re-retentionIn 2020 the tenant's side brought JDE back for a second round, this time under privilege
- Second round conditionsComparables then sat at $198.20 while the garage sat at 11 percent occupancy
- MethodCounts made in person, defensible line by line, not purchased data
A demanded 74 to 105 percent increase, carrying roughly $660K to $790K a year, was answered with a counted 66 percent occupancy, a photograph of a rooftop billboard advertising more than 300 empty spaces, and a documented fair market range of $125 to $145. The client's verdict on that work was to retain JDE a second time, under privilege.
Most rate disputes are two opinions and no counts. If a lease negotiation, a renewal, or a dispute is riding on what parking is worth, put a counted number under your position first: contact JDE.