Northampton downtown parking garage projected to lose up to $200,000 in annual revenue
The closure of upper floors cut the garage's capacity by half, forcing city officials to negotiate additional parking elsewhere.
NORTHAMPTON — The E.J. Gare Parking Garage is on track to lose up to $200,000 in annual revenue compared to 2025 because of its partial closure since March, city officials said this week.
The top two of the garage's five floors have been closed for seven months after the city discovered significant structural damage. The closure has cut the garage's capacity from 430 parking spaces to 220, and its revenue has dropped sharply. City officials presented findings from a structural study to the City Council on October 15, revealing that the garage suffers from corrosion of rebar and spalling of concrete.
City officials estimate the garage will bring in between $248,000 and $284,000 by the end of 2026, down from $449,000 in 2025. Between January and September 2026, the garage generated $196,871, with revenue varying from a high of $29,351 in January to a low of $18,163 in September. Finance Director Charlene Nardi said the shortfall will require the city to adjust its budget, as it depends on parking garage revenue for about one-quarter of its total parking revenue each year.
The partial closure has also created ongoing costs. The city has spent about $9,000 a month on maintenance and structural reinforcement since March. Chief of Staff Alan Wolf told the City Council that after subtracting maintenance expenses, the garage is currently netting only $10,000 to $11,000 monthly, compared to its historical contribution of about $20,000 per month.
To address the shortfall, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has been negotiating access to supplemental parking throughout the city. She is working to finalize agreements with several parking lot owners, including a proposed long-term agreement at 33 Hawley Street for 70 public spaces, temporary use of 20 spaces at the former Saint Mary's Church site for city employees, and access to a parking lot near 33 King Street through Valley Community Development Corp.
Architects have proposed two options for the garage's future. One would demolish the structure and create a surface-level parking lot with 110 spaces for an estimated $3.3 million to $3.8 million. The other would replace the garage entirely, at a cost of $18 million to $33 million. City officials said they will return to the City Council with recommendations and financing options after determining next steps.