Preparation for the demolition of the Fourth Street parking garage began earlier this month after closing down in January. The lack of parking in the area continues to cause many downtown employees and visitors to be frustrated.
“It definitely affects business and people showing up,” said Alison McGlothlin, owner of Elan Salon, located inside Fountain Square mall. McGlothlin said she often hears complaints about parking from her clients. She also explained that it is difficult when hiring new employees, they often ask where they will park and how much it will cost.
Elan Salon employees usually park in the Morton or Scott’s Garage, the Napa lot or the lot by the convention center. McGlothlin said the lack of communication is very frustrating and said she sometimes calls the city office for updates.
Alison McGlothlin explains some of her frustrations.
Angela Huxford, co-owner of Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks explained there are a few disabled parking spots around the square but she is concerned about parking over winter.
Angela Huxford discusses parking over winter.
While the structure will be demolished over the next several weeks, it is projected that the new garage won’t be complete until December 2020.
Huxford explained there were lack of spaces even when the garage existed. “We’ve been on the waitlist for years to get a parking pass for the garage, just for the owners, not even for the employees or the contractors. I’ve been on the waitlist and I’ve owned this practice for three years and I’ve never got a parking pass for when there was a garage. So, it’s always been an issue but it’s just been aggravated by the lack of spaces now,” said Angela Huxford.
Unlike Huxford, McGlothlin’s employees all had parking passes and she believes they will get them back when the new garage opens. “We haven’t been told how much it is cost, but we have been told we will have a space there. We don’t know many spaces will be reserved,” said McGlothlin.
While the design for the new parking garage is still in the review stage, there will be an increase in parking spaces, which will help local businesses. The new parking garage will have approximately 550 spaces. The new garage will cost 18.5 million, which includes 1.482 million for the demolition.
