Shelby Street parking lot to close through June

KINGSPORT — Construction of a new 364 space parking garage on Shelby Street will require the closure of the existing surface parking lot beginning January 17. Construction of the new facility is expected to take about six months, with an opening slated for June.

The new Shelby Street Parking Garage will feature free public parking in most of the spaces, replacing the existing 110 surface parking spaces. To be constructed at a cost of $4.5 million, the structure will feature facades on Center and Market streets designed to fit in with existing buildings along those streets.

A limited amount of commercial office/retail/restaurant/loft space will be available on both ends of the building facing Center Street and Market Street once the facility is complete, and new downtown restrooms will be provided in the facility for use during special downtown events such as the Twilight Alive and Bluegrass on Broad concert series.

In the interim, additional free public parking will be provided New Street across from Chef’s Pizza to help accomodate parking needs. For a map of free parking areas in and around City Hall, please click here.‚ To view renderings of the new garage, please click here.