City of St. Joseph to begin replacing aging parking garages in the downtown area  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- The City of St. Joseph is getting ready to start work on two downtown parking garages, converting both structures into ground-level parking lots. 

Jackson Jones, superintendent of streets and infrastructure, said the city plans to make adjustments as needed and repair surfaces wherever necessary during the process  

“Its reached the end of its life structure and to try and get it repaired would be cost prohibitive. It is tough to say how long it will take to finish the work since we will do both garages,” he said.  

The garages are located at Fourth and Felix streets near Civic Arena and at Sixth and Jules streets near the Law Enforcement Center.  

According to Jones, once restoration crews arrive, they could be working on the project for at least another month, with work likely continuing throughout the summer. 

The city has budgeted around $800,000 for both projects. 

“The work has not begun yet, we have signs posted around the area though. On The 18th we are going to officially close this garage and will start removing some items which we can reuse,” Jones said.  

Jones added how alternate parking options will remain available during construction. Parking at the parking garage on Sixth and Jules, for example, will stay open while work is underway at Fourth and Felix. 

For nearby residents and businesses, the changes are welcome news. Holly Boatwright, administrative assistant at Corby Place Senior Living, said the current garage has become a gathering place for vagrancy, creating safety concerns for residents.  

“We do have vagrants that hang out in the parking garage currently and if they do away with the structure then they don’t have a place to hide,” she said.  

She also said the city has worked closely with Corby Place to provide nearby temporary parking for residents during construction and plans to create new parking spaces in the future. 

Boatwright hopes the changes will improve safety for residents. 

“If they wanted to go out and walk, it would be more safer for them to do so because now with all the vagrants hanging out in the garage you never know what they will walk out to,” she added.  

Kylee Strough, president of United Way of Greater St. Joseph, said she appreciates any effort that helps keep downtown attractive and accessible.  

“I think it would cost more to repair what’s there than go with a different style and I think anything we can do to spread the dollars further is a good idea,” she said.  

While she admitted United Way employees don’t use those garages very often because they typically rely on street parking.  

She believes the Civic Arena location could see heavier use during events once the Fourth and Felix garage closes.  

“I have worked at United Way for 21 years and I am not sure I have seen that parking garage full at any point. So, hopefully the surface level is going to accommodate a healthy number of cars,” Strough said.  

She also hopes the city can continue working with neighboring property owners to provide temporary parking access while construction is underway. 

The project is being funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, with funds expected to be used by the end of the year.