I don’t know the circumstances surrounding those parking lots, and nothing is perfect, but generally things are done much better and the results much more satisfying in the voluntary cooperation and competition of buyers and sellers in the market economy free of government interference. The free market isn’t perfect but it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.
If a local project must be run by a local government, the best results will come if the government officials are not politicians but businessmen (the “reasonable” element) and the government is small enough to be answerable to the public (the “accountability” element).
In almost 50 years I have built in all of those market segments, Government does build a little on its own in public works but for the most part they have their work built by private companies just like Walmart does.
They have their own set of rules and environment just like any very large customer does but they are better than they used to be three decades ago.
Owner’s that build for themselves and long term ownership generally design and then build with that term of ownership in mind — higher quality.