Kalamazoo County Board Approves Parking Garage at 440 N. Church Street

*KALAMAZOO, MI* — Construction was approved for a new parking garage in downtown Kalamazoo, marking a significant investment in downtown infrastructure and future growth. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved contractors for the work at its March 17 regular meeting.

Commissioners voted to set a guaranteed maximum price of about $26.8 million to build the garage at 440 N. Church St., adjacent to where the county plans to build a new county administration building. The new garage will have around 440 parking spaces, officials have said.

The board first voted down a motion to approve all subcontractors, based on a recommendation from the building authority. A discussion before the vote centered on methods the county should use to approve bidders, weighing factors like using local companies, price and more.

The board decided to divide the question, voting to approve some of the subcontractors separately. The county board approved preparation work for the parking garage in July 2025 for $590,800. The county bought the property for $730,000 in 2023.

Strategic Location Near Future County Administration Building

The parking garage is strategically located at 440 N. Church Street, directly adjacent to the property where Kalamazoo County plans to construct a new county administration building. This timing suggests the county is coordinating infrastructure investments to support future growth and development in downtown Kalamazoo.

The location makes sense given the county's ongoing efforts to consolidate government services and create more efficient facilities in the downtown area. The new administration building has been a long-term goal for county officials, who have sought to modernize facilities and improve service delivery to residents and businesses throughout Kalamazoo County.

Officials have emphasized the importance of providing adequate parking for employees, visitors, and the public as the downtown area continues to evolve and accommodate increased activity.

Downtown Parking Context

The approval comes as downtown Kalamazoo undergoes significant parking updates. On April 1, 2026, new paid parking rules officially took effect throughout the downtown area, with new parking meter kiosks installed to modernize the system.

The city's updated paid parking layout includes:

  • Premium Rate Zone: $2 per hour in the core downtown area where parking demand is highest
  • Base Rate Zone: $1.50 per hour on surrounding streets with moderate demand

The Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall ramps continue to offer free, 90-minute parking, with drivers able to pay using the new kiosks that accept coins, credit cards, debit cards, or the ParkMobile app.

Meter enforcement now begins at 10 a.m. to align with peak downtown activity. The City said it will have a grace period to help drivers adjust, where drivers will receive a notice instead of a ticket during the transition period.

The new parking garage project complements these downtown parking improvements by providing additional parking capacity in a strategic location near the new county administration building.

County Investment History

The county's commitment to this site dates back several years. In 2023, Kalamazoo County purchased the property at 440 N. Church Street for $730,000. The county then approved preparation work in July 2025 for $590,800, laying the groundwork for the current construction project.

This investment reflects the county's broader strategy to modernize facilities and improve infrastructure in downtown Kalamazoo. The timing of the parking garage approval, coupled with plans for a new county administration building, suggests coordinated development efforts to enhance the downtown area.

What This Means for Downtown Kalamazoo

The $26.8 million parking garage project represents a substantial investment in downtown Kalamazoo's infrastructure. With approximately 440 parking spaces, the garage will provide significant relief for parking demand in the downtown area, particularly as the county administration building takes shape nearby.

The project aligns with broader trends in downtown development, where municipalities are investing in infrastructure that supports business growth, tourism, and quality of life for residents. The garage's location near the future county administration building makes it particularly valuable for employees, visitors, and the public.

The board decided to divide the question, voting to approve some of the subcontractors separately, showing careful consideration of the project's various components and stakeholders.

As construction moves forward, the garage will be an important piece of downtown Kalamazoo's evolving infrastructure landscape, providing essential parking capacity as the area continues to grow and develop.