(The story headline has been updated with a clarification.)
A proposed downtown Ventura parking garage to be built at the northeast corner of Santa Clara and Palm streets is set to undergo environmental review, with completion targeted for 2027.
On April 14, councilmembers approved the contract of around $211,000 on a 4-3 vote for the environmental review. It has a completion date of May 31, 2027, according to a staff report. The funding will come from the city’s parking authority fund and a general fund subsidy.
Councilmembers Alex Mangone, Ryyn Schumacher and Liz Campos voted against the contract.
There are many other matters in the city that need the investment of “our time, our energy, our money to make downtown booming,” Schumacher said. “For me, investing in a parking structure that isn’t something we really need is putting the cart before the horse.”
He said the city has businesses saying they need more foot traffic and parking permit stations that are not even working.
The proposed project would demolish the existing surface parking lot and construct a multilevel parking structure with about 400 spaces, along with bicycle parking and public restrooms, the report states.
The estimated total project cost is about $31.5 million, with most of the funding not yet identified, according to the report. The environmental review and permits phase completion is projected to be winter 2027.
Separately, councilmembers voted unanimously to make improvements to downtown paid parking, including allowing mobile payment options, offering one-hour free parking sessions and updating existing parking permit programs.
The changes, adopted through amendments to the city’s municipal code, are intended to modernize parking regulations and align them with a downtown parking improvements project with the expansion of paid parking in winter 2026, according to a staff report.
New on-street parking meters using a pay-by-plate system are expected to become operational in summer 2026, replacing the city’s existing pay-by-space meters, the report states.
The new meters will replace the existing meters with an exact date still to be determined, said Charlie Ebeling, public works director, in an email.
City staff are expected to return to the City Council at a later date to decide how much the city should charge for expanded downtown parking. Proposed changes to time limits in off-street parking lots will also be considered by the council at a future meeting.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura takes steps toward downtown parking garage
Reporting by Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
