MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Is it safe?
Where are we going to park?
The two questions everyone asks before they come to Downtown Memphis.
A new parking garage got the thumbs up Wednesday from the County Commission.
Developers say it will tackle both of these issues.
“I would love to have a new garage to choose from,” Crystal Howell, who works Downtown said.
Howell’s main concerns when choosing a garage are cameras and security.
The new garage will bring more than three-hundred parking spaces to the South Main neighborhood near the corner of Butler and Tennessee.
The best part is: you aren’t paying to build it.
“This doesn`t involve any county tax payer dollars, or city tax payer dollars. Or any tax payer dollars,” Paul Morris with the Downtown Commission explained.
The commission is dipping into its bank account for this, funded by fees paid by downtown businesses.
This part of town where they are building this garage is home to a lot of future development; the Tennessee Brewery, Hotel Chisca, and Central Station.
WREG first told you about this project in March.
It includes a hotel, apartments, and a movie theater where the current downtown police precinct sits.
“Memphis in May fills up the neighborhood, the farmers market fills up the neighborhood,” Morris added, “We`ve got frequent events that will fill up this garage.”
This space will be different than other garages, according to planners.
It will have cameras and security guards, and be very well lit.
Chadd Carter hopes this will bring more people to the restaurant he works for.
“The revitalization of that area is phenomenal,” Carter said, “Having the parking space will create a lot of parking and bring a lot of attention down there.”
Crystal Howell hopes this project will bring more jobs and people to a city she says deserves it.
“Anything for Memphis is great. It`s a wonderful city that gets a bad rap. Any development is great,” Howell said.
Construction is expected to take eighteen months to finish.
The price tag is set for $5.2 million, but a parking spot should only run you about $2 an hour.