Downtown State College parking garage will temporarily close for repairs. What to expect
State College’s oldest — and second-largest — downtown parking garage will be temporarily closed for about a week to complete necessary repairs, according to the borough.
The 50-year-old Pugh Street Parking Garage will remain closed from 10 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. June 27. Per borough spokesperson Kayla Lafferty, the repairs at Pugh and upcoming repairs at other garages include addressing concrete spalls and cracks, joint sealants, stair tread repairs, repointing of areas of brick, installation of some new roof drains, traffic toppings and some painting.
During the closure, Pugh permit holders and other drivers are asked to instead use the Fraser Street and Beaver Street parking garages, as the McAllister Street Parking Deck’s second and third levels will be reserved for only McAllister permit holders. (McAllister’s ground floor will remain open to the public, however.)
According to Lafferty, maintenance costs this year for all four garages are expected to be about $1.46 million. The Fraser Street Parking Garage will be closed July 23-26 for traffic toppings, and the McAllister Street Parking Deck will have partial closures for short times as needed but will not require a complete closure.
The repairs have been expected. A consultant informed the borough last year that the parking garages will require about $7.3 million in maintenance from 2021 through 2029, and officials said then that the Pugh Street Parking Garage wouldn’t last longer than “7-10 years.”
A new garage could eventually be in the works. The borough’s 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan, which essentially acts as a roadmap for future costs and projects, currently has $35 million projected for “new parking structures” — including $26 million in 2026.
For now, though, local residents and visitors will have to endure the necessary repairs at Pugh, which boasts 491 parking spaces. Those with further questions are asked to contact the State College Parking Department at 814-278-4769.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 3:47 PM.
