New Parking Facility to Be Built Adjacent to County Administration Building

*KALAMAZOO, MI* — Construction was approved Wednesday for a new parking garage in downtown Kalamazoo, with the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voting to approve contractors for the project at its March 17 regular meeting.

The project, located at 440 N. Church St., will position the garage next to where the county plans to build a new county administration building. Officials have set a "guaranteed maximum price" of approximately $26.8 million to complete the construction.

According to county officials, the new facility will provide around 440 parking spaces for downtown visitors, employees, and shoppers. The board initially voted down a motion to approve all subcontractors, based on a recommendation from the building authority, before dividing the question and approving some subcontractors separately.

County Invests Nearly $2 Million on Preparation Work

The county board previously approved preparation work for the parking garage in July 2025, allocating $590,800 for site development and preliminary construction. The county purchased the property at 440 N. Church St. for $730,000 in 2023, securing the site before the parking garage project moved forward.

Brad Devereaux of MLive reported on the approval, noting the building authority had been working on bringing together the appropriate subcontractors to move the project forward. The decision marks a significant investment in downtown infrastructure as the county continues to develop its administrative footprint in the city center.

Downtown Parking System Undergoing Major Updates

The parking garage approval comes as the City of Kalamazoo simultaneously updates its downtown parking system. New paid parking rules went into effect on Wednesday, April 1, with significant changes to pricing and availability throughout downtown Kalamazoo.

Under the updated system, 12 downtown blocks have transitioned to paid parking where demand for curbside spaces is highest, while 11 blocks have transitioned to free parking, creating new free parking options downtown.

The new paid parking areas feature two pricing zones:

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

Many on-street spaces will remain free throughout downtown, and visitors will continue to have access to free 90-minute parking in the Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall ramps.

Grace Period for Drivers

To help residents and visitors adjust to the changes, the city implemented a grace period beginning Wednesday. During this time, visitors who have not yet paid for parking may receive a notice instead of a ticket, while standard time limits and other parking regulations will continue to be enforced.

Meter enforcement now begins at 10:00 a.m., aligning with peak downtown activity hours. New signage and payment kiosks have been installed throughout downtown, and flyers and posters were posted on blocks where parking rules are changing to help visitors navigate the updated parking system.

Long-Term Parking Improvements Planned

As part of broader parking system improvements, additional updates will be introduced later this year. The city plans to add new accessible (ADA) parking spaces throughout downtown, which will be installed after curb improvements, such as updated ramps and curb cuts, are completed.

The 53 existing loading zones will be converted to 15-minute spaces to accommodate both loading activity and short-term parking, with additional spaces added to support quick trips for deliveries, shopping, and takeout.

Updated Parking Information Available Online

Updated parking maps and additional information are available at www.parkkalamazoo.org, where visitors can find details about the new paid and free parking zones, rates, and enforcement hours.

The changes follow recommendations from the City's Parking+ Downtown Parking Management Blueprint, first published in 2019 and updated in 2023, which aims to make it easier for visitors to find parking near their destination while maintaining free options throughout downtown.

"The changes follow recommendations from the City's Parking+ Downtown Parking Management Blueprint, first published in 2019 and updated in 2023, which aims to make it easier for visitors to find parking near their destination while maintaining free options throughout downtown."

The new parking garage and updated downtown parking system represent a coordinated approach to improving parking access in downtown Kalamazoo, with the county and city working together to provide adequate parking options for downtown workers, visitors, and residents.