Construction to begin on new city parking garage

January 7, 2016 6:51 pm

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Dorothy Lui is a medical student at Brown University. Her classes take place at the Alpert medical school, located in the cities Jewelry district. She says the only downfall of going to school in the city is that parking isn’t always the easiest to find, even with a garage next to the school.

"Say both first years and second years have a mandatory class. Not only that, with the expansion of the mandatory classes it leads to a lot of issues with parking because trying to fit that many people in that garage along with people who work around here can be a real hassle," says Lui.

The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce says the South Street Landing Project is taking concerns like Lui’s and coming up with answers.
Thursday, construction began on a 744-space parking garage located just across the street from the Brown Medical School. It will provide parking for students, faculty, residents, and other area businesses.

"It’s much more attractive to want to live in the city knowing that there is parking. It’s much more attractive to work in the city if you know that there is parking and also go to school," says President of the Chamber, Laurie White.

One of the two northbound lanes on Eddy Street will be closed until the garage is built to create separation between the construction and traffic. White says the garage is part of the 220-million dollar South Street Landing Project, which includes the parking garage, Brown University administrative offices, student housing and a nursing education center.

"It’s really a transformational project that is going to take the city of Providence and really expand its employment base, bring new energy, new people, new development, and new businesses into that area," says White.

"You know this area is really up-and-coming. I think that opening up another parking garage will be great for in preparation for what’s to come in the area," adds Lui.