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Downtown Projects#

Civic Center Parking Garage Stairwell Closure#

The stairwell at the southeast corner of the City's Civic Center Parking Garage, located at the intersection of Laporte and Mason Street, requires a full replacement due to structural issues. It will remain closed until the replacement is completed. 

We understand how frustrating it has been to have the stairwell closed for this long - our team shares that frustration. Projects involving structural safety and multiple funding sources can be complex, and the challenges of replacing the stairwell have led to significant delays. We began assessing the stairwell's safety in 2019 and identified routine repairs that could be funded by Parking Services. However, funding was paused due to the pandemic and delayed further by fluctuations in available funds. During that time, the stairwell's condition worsened, ultimately requiring a full replacement instead of just repairs, which led to the need for additional funding. 

We secured the necessary funding and construction is began in July 2025 and was scheduled to be completed by late fall 2025. During the removal of the existing stairs, previously unknown structural issues were discovered that must be addressed before the new stairs can be installed. As a result, the project timeline has been extended, and completion is now estimated for March 2026.

We are looking forward to celebrating its completion! In the meantime, we recommend using the elevator next to the closed stairwell or the nearby stairwell at the southwest corner of the garage. 

Downtown Employer Parking Information#