The City of Bloomington is declining to throw good money after bad to repair its Market Street parking deck. The city said it will close the parking garage on Aug. 22.
“After reviewing our consultant’s assessment of the structure, and considering the costs and benefits of possible repairs, we determined that closing the garage at this time is the most prudent course,” said City Manager Jeff Jurgens.
Jurgens said temporary repairs would have required several hundred thousand dollars without meaningfully extending the useful life of the facility. The city did spend $250,000 on temporary repairs in 2022. Three years later, the aging facility needed more work, according to engineers.
The site is the potential location of a planned Connect Transit transfer station.
To compensate for the loss, the city said it has opened more than 200 new on-street parking spaces and said it continues to expand nearby options.
Permits in the Abraham Lincoln Garage on Front Street cost $50 per month. The Arena Parking Garage on South Roosevelt has a reduced rate of $25 per month.
The city has made Douglas parking lots A, B, and C free for 24-hour parking.
The U.S. Post Office, on the southeast corner of the Market Street garage, is expected to remain open until it relocates to a new downtown site, said a city release.
Market Street garage permit holders are asked to return permit cards to the Facilities Management Office.
“We appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we follow our consultant’s guidance and take a safety-first approach,” Jurgens said.
The city also is installing new wayfinding signs to direct people to parking options.
“There is a lot of activity right now in downtown Bloomington — businesses are open, and we will make sure people know where to park,” said Mayor Dan Brady.
