Ithaca officials say the Seneca Street parking garage will remain closed indefinitely as the city evaluates the structure’s condition and considers long-term plans for the site.
The downtown garage was shut down April 10 after safety concerns emerged, and city leaders confirmed Friday that it will stay closed while engineers complete a structural review and officials determine next steps.
Sidewalks surrounding the garage also remain closed for now, with the city planning to install protective scaffolding to guard against falling debris tied to cracking in the building’s façade. Once that work is complete, sidewalks are expected to reopen and TCAT bus service will return to its previous stop location near the garage.
The structure, which opened in 1973, has exceeded the typical 30- to 50-year lifespan for parking garages in the Northeast. City officials said ongoing annual inspections — conducted more frequently than required under state regulations — had previously guided maintenance and repairs, but a new engineering assessment commissioned after the closure will help determine whether further remediation or redevelopment is needed.
In the short term, the city plans partial façade repairs alongside installation of pedestrian protections as it works toward a broader evaluation of the site.
With the garage offline, officials say there is still enough parking capacity downtown to meet demand. The Green Street and Cayuga Street garages remain open and offer both permit and hourly options, while on-street parking is available throughout the area.
City leaders are also encouraging residents and workers to consider alternative transportation through the GO ITHACA program, which offers transit passes, carshare credits, and other incentives aimed at reducing reliance on downtown parking.
Further updates are expected once the engineering review is completed and a clearer direction for the aging structure is established.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].