Wednesday was a big day for state legislators.
Not just because they voted to override several of the governor’s vetoes: It was the first day of a lawmaking session when the shiny new legislative parking garage was open for their use.
After more than a year of construction, about 350 people were able to park in the new garage behind the State House, according to the General Court’s Chief Operating Officer Terry Pfaff. The structure isn’t quite at its full, 400-space capacity yet – some lawmakers were still directed to park atop the old garage over Storrs Street.
While the garage, which occupies a city block downtown, will not be open to the public at any time, it is set to free up more prized street parking during the day.
Because of the old garage’s relative distance from the statehouse, the state had negotiated with the city for dozens of street spots to be set aside for lawmakers with mobility issues.
During the most recent session, and many before it, yellow bags could be seen lining many of the streets immediately around the gold dome, pinching the parking supply on that end of downtown all day. The city has pushed to change that.
“I’ve certainly made it no secret that I want to see it significantly reduced or eliminated,” Mayor Byron Champlin said on Wednesday.
As will come as a relief to many Concord residents, there was a noticeable scarcity in the number of parking meters covered by yellow “reserved” bags downtown Wednesday afternoon.
There will still be a few reserved spots, Pfaff said, but lawmakers are now sent to the new garage, which is ADA compliant.
“We have ample parking for the general court now,” Pfaff said. “So that’s where they’re directed to park.” The exact number of allowed reservations is still being negotiated, according to the mayor.
There were still plenty of red-and-white license plates in on-street spots on Wednesday. That, Pfaff said, is a personal choice made by lawmakers. It’s a habit some city leaders want to see end.
Lawmakers in street spots are obligated to pay city parking fees, and meter-feeding beyond the three-hour limit is against city rules. A session day, though, typically lasts far longer than that.
But for many legislators, this marks a long-awaited transition.
“It’s fabulous,” said State Rep. Nick Germana. “If you’ve ever had the pleasure of being in the Storrs Street garage, where it is literally falling down around you and the turns going up from floor to floor are just so tight — in any event, it’s a beautiful space. They did a terrific job, and it’s going to make it a lot easier.”
City officials have also been eager to see the old garage torn down.
Its rusty frame spans over Storrs Street, an area many in Concord want to see blossom with redevelopment.
Demolition is expected in 2027, according to Pfaff. The state is set to put the tear-down job out to bid in about six weeks.
