If you use Bloomington’s Fourth Street garage, you’ll need to find another place to park in the new year.
The garage is set to close the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 2 for repairs.
Public Works Director Adam Wason says the city is still in the planning stages of the repairs, so it will be several months before construction on the structure starts.
Last week, the City Council denied an $18.5 million funding request to demolish the facility and construct an expanded garage in its place. Instead, the council voted in support of a five-year plan to repair the garage.
Structural engineers estimate repairs to sustain 5 years of operational life will take 4 to 6 months and cost around $1.1. Million.
Wason says the cost estimates are subject to change.
“Until you actually begin the repairs and open up the facility, when I say open up I mean actually start getting into the concrete and doing the work, is when the true final costs won’t be known until those repairs are complete,” he says.
The controversial proposal to reconstruct the garage was met with opposition from members of the public, who say expanding parking capacities will only increase car dependency.
City officials, including Mayor John Hamilton, expressed support of rebuilding the garage before additional surface lot parking is eliminated as a result of the planned Monroe County convention center expansion.
Wason says the city is consulting with structural engineering firm CE Solutions to assess the structure and prepare contractor bid documents.
Additional Places To Park
Displaced permit parkers at the Fourth Street garage can be accommodated at alternate downtown locations:
Walnut Street Garage, 302 N. Walnut Street
Morton Street Garage, 220 N. Morton Street
3 rd Street and Madison Street Surface Lot
Dunn Street and E. 4 th Street Surface Lot
