Automated Parking Structure Unveiled at New Apartment Complex on Burbank Blvd.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for a fully automated parking system at a new apartment complex that allows for three floors of parking for every two floors of a traditional garage.

Located at 14039 Burbank Blvd., the structure was built by AutoParkiT and heralded as Southern California's first fully automated parking system.

AutoParkiT works by implementing a mechanical system of lifts and shuttles. According to the company's website:

1) User activates external door

2) Vehicle enters garage, ignition is turned off and vehicle is locked

3) User exits garage and activates system

4) Equipment loads vehicle into system

5) Lift/shuttle travels to a cell and deposits vehicle (steps 1-5 can occur while lift/shuttle continues automatic transfer of a previous vehicle)

6) Shuttle awaits instruction or returns for next vehicle

7) User initiates retrieval and the entire process works in reverse

"Do you still go to the bank to get cash or do you go to an ATM?" said Christopher Alan, who developed the project, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. "This is the same thing."

The Daily News also reported that because no concrete needs to be poured, construction costs can be kept between $17,500 and $23,000 per stall by AutoParkiT, while the local parking structure average is $18,000 to over $30,000 per stall.

The apartment complex is located in Van Nuys on the border with Sherman Oaks.

Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Rep. Tony Cardenas, Building and Safety General Manager Bud Ovrom, and Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian were on hand for the ribbon cutting.

See the attached YouTube video for more information on how AutoParkiT works.