Downtown Kalamazoo Undergoes Major Changes
Two neighboring buildings have been demolished in downtown Kalamazoo since the beginning of 2026, and now construction is approved for a new $26.8 million parking garage at 440 N. Church St. in the heart of downtown. The changes are part of a broader transformation of Kalamazoo's downtown area.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved contractors for the parking garage 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 County Parking Garage Project
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.
This project is part of a larger vision for downtown Kalamazoo, where the county administration building will be constructed on land adjacent to the new parking garage.
Double Demolition in Downtown Kalamazoo
Two neighboring buildings have been demolished in downtown Kalamazoo since the beginning of 2026, including one this week. Plans for the asbestos-contaminated area behind AT&T and across from the Blue Dolphin have fallen through in the past.
What's coming next is still a mystery, as local officials couldn't be reached for more information.
Community Answering Service Building Demolished
The Community Answering Service at 433 S. Rose St. was torn down in January, leaving the lot at the corner of Rose Street and Cedar Street vacant.
The Community Answering Service building was demolished in January. That property changed hands for $190,000 in 2021, public records show. It's owned by an LLC associated with West Michigan real estate developer Hinman Company.
Fire Station No. 1 Demolished
One parcel to the east, demolition at 116 W. Cedar Street began in March. The building previously housed Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Fire Station No. 1.
The two-story building was built in 1957, and was most recently used for storage. The 14,803-square-foot building previously housed Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Fire Station No. 1.
The city owns it, per public records, and a pending brownfield plan application from 2025 is on the books. Asbestos is the issue, per a 2023 city meeting agenda.
It was added to the city's brownfield plan in 2004 to create development incentives once the property is made available for private acquisition.
The city was looking for redevelopment ideas at 116 W. Cedar Street in 2017, per previous MLive reporting.
In 2018, Portage-based Hollander Development Corp. was the sole respondent. The company submitted plan to demolish the public safety training facility and build a six-story office and affordable housing complex. Plans for the site uploaded in 2018. Hollander.
These plans did not include the 433 S. Rose St. demolition.
Come 2023, the property was under contract to sell to AVB-associated Burdick@Cedar LLC for redevelopment, documents state. AVB officials could not be reached for more information.
Downtown Development in Context
These demolitions and new construction projects are part of a larger trend of development in downtown Kalamazoo. The area has seen significant change in recent years, with new businesses, residential developments, and infrastructure improvements transforming the downtown landscape.
The parking garage project, when completed, will provide much-needed parking in an area where street parking is limited and visitor parking has become increasingly scarce. The 440 spaces will serve downtown businesses, visitors, and county employees.
The demolitions at 433 S. Rose St. and 116 W. Cedar Street clear the way for future development, though the exact plans for these sites remain uncertain at this time.
What's Next
The county parking garage project is moving forward with contractors approved, though the exact timeline for completion has not been announced. The brownfield remediation and demolition work at the two sites is underway, with plans for redevelopment to be developed by the new owners or developers.
Downtown Kalamazoo continues to evolve, with new developments and infrastructure improvements shaping the area's future. The parking garage and demolition projects are just the latest chapter in downtown Kalamazoo's ongoing transformation.