Olathe’s downtown parking crunch will worsen before a new garage is completed. Construction starts June 29. The three-level garage will replace the existing surface-level lot on the southwest corner of Poplar and Chestnut streets and add hundreds of parking spaces for City Hall, the county courthouse, and downtown Olathe visitors when construction wraps up next year.

Parking Relief

The current surface lot behind City Hall accommodates 179 vehicles, while the garage will have space for 400. The garage will include electric vehicle charging stations, elevators, and a parking guidance system to help drivers find available spots.

The city hall’s current parking lot will be closed for the entirety of the construction process, requiring drivers to use alternative parking locations downtown. City staff will be given a map of options.

The project has been in the works since last year when city and county officials agreed the parking shortage around downtown Olathe needed to be addressed. A parking study found a 62-spot deficit that was predicted to grow as the downtown area continues to develop with more restaurants and attractions.

County commissioners mentioned in initial discussions about the parking garage that constituents who use walkers, canes, or wheelchairs have told them this is a problem. The new parking garage, which will be located on the south side of the courthouse, will have eight ADA spots.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.