St. Armands parking garage officially opens

After a two-month trial, the St. Armands parking garage is officially open to residents and visitors at 47 N. Adams Drive.

The four-level garage, which costs 50 cents an hour, brings 484 parking spaces to the area.

The $15 million project was made possible by a partnership between the city and St. Armands commercial property owners who agreed to pay more taxes to pay for the garage.

“This has been such a needed amenity for the circle,” said St. Armands Association Executive Director Diana Corrigan. “It’s nice to see that everyone came together in partnership and support. Hopefully this is just the beginning for St. Armands.”

Features of the garage include a bike storage and repair station, five electric vehicle charging stations, a tire inflation station and an atrium in the middle.

“This is a parking structure, but already it is timeless,” said City Manager Tom Barwin. “It fits in with the neighborhood. It’s classic and elegant with its design ... This is the equivalent of an amazing, outstanding architectural gem.”

Not only does the garage open up the commercial districts to more visitors, it is environmentally sound, Barwin said. Most of the materials used in the project were recycled, and solar panels on the roof provide 25% of the energy necessary to power the garage.

Even more than that, the garage brings two public restrooms to the commercial district, something St. Armands resident and former business owner Barbara Shapiro said was necessary.

“I cannot tell you how many times people would come in to the store asking for a bathroom,” Shapiro said. 

“We’ve traveled all over the world and even in the tiniest little towns in Europe, there’s always a public bathroom.”