Parking lot in downtown Springfield to close in preparation for garage construction

The gravel parking lot located at North Fountain Avenue and West Columbia Street will close on Wednesday in preparation for the construction of a new parking garage.

The lot will close at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night.

“Those currently using the lot at Fountain Avenue and Columbia Street should begin making alternative parking arrangements beginning Thursday, June 27,” a statement from the City of Springfield said.

MORE: Springfield parking garage approved, construction to begin in July

Construction on the three-story, 305 parking space garage is slated to begin in early July, Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck said previously.

“The lot will remain closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to be complete in April of 2020,” the statement said.

The Springfield City Commission approved the roughly $7 million downtown parking garage project earlier this month.

Also earlier this month, the commission voted in favor of entering a joint agreement with Clark State Community College, securing the funding to construct the garage.

The joint agreement will release $2.55 million in state funds for the property courtesy of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said Heck.

Additional funding will include $1 million that Clark County will provide and $3.3 million from the city.

Heck said previously the commission had reached an agreement with Dugan and Meyers, a construction company located in Blue Ash, to cap total costs on the garage at roughly $6.8 million.

MORE: Springfield City Commission to talk about next phase of parking garage

The downtown Springfield parking garage has been discussed by the commission for several years as a way to provide additional parking downtown as the city works to attract more retail and business to the city center.

Over 3,000 square feet of retail space will also be available on the ground level of the garage along Fountain Avenue.

Fountain Avenue is currently home to Le Torte Dolci, Salato Deli, Champion City Guide + Supply, Winans Chocolates & Coffees, Stella Bleu and Sip & Dipitary Paint Bar.

Springfield also recently broke ground on an $8 million, 34-unit townhome housing development near the garage site. The townhomes will be about 1,300 square feet and cost around $200,000.

The two projects are just some of the development projects in downtown Springfield over the last decade, including the National Trail Park and Recreation District Chiller Ice Arena, Springfield Regional Medical Center, Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co., COhatch and more.

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