Library Parking Garage to Be Closed Nightly Starting July 17

Published on July 09, 2020

Media Contact:
Kellie Stickney
Communications Program Manager
kstickney@kirklandwa.gov
(425) 979-6562

Midnight to 5 a.m. closure is one of multiple safety enhancements being implemented by the City

KIRKLAND, Wash. – As part of a series of safety upgrades to the library parking garage, the City will begin closing and locking the garage every night from midnight to 5 a.m. beginning on Friday, July 17, 2020.

All vehicle and pedestrian doors will be locked at midnight every night and will reopen at 5 a.m. the next day. There will not be an after-closure vehicle release service.

Since the garage was first built there has been an increasing number of undesirable and unsafe behaviors in the garage, including overnight camping, unsanitary actions, graffiti, vandalism, and crimes against people and property. The garage will be checked each night before the closure to ensure there are no unwanted activities occurring before the doors are locked. The closure will also give staff the opportunity to complete routine cleaning and repairs.

“These closures, and other safety improvements to the garage, are being made after careful consideration for the parking needs of community members and downtown businesses,” said Interim Public Works Director Julie Underwood. “The improvements will help ensure that visitors to the garage have a safe and positive experience.”

Nightly closures of the garage are one of the multiple safety improvements that have recently been implemented by the City in response to safety concerns from community members. In addition to improvements to allow for the nightly closures, the City has updated older security cameras and installed additional cameras. The closures will also allow the City to complete daily cleaning of the elevator and weekly cleaning of the stairwells. Additionally, after the closures begin, large and highly visible panic buttons will be installed.
When downtown traffic begins to return to normal, the City anticipates working with contractor Diamond Parking to have a staff member onsite to monitor the garage in the evenings, and to provide helpful information to visitors.

Downtown employees who work later than midnight can access the Wester lot at 120-3rd Avenue when using a free window decal obtained from the City. Downtown employees can obtain the decal by calling (425) 587-3867.

More information about parking for the general public is available on the City website at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Public_Works/Transportation_and_Traffic/Parking.htm.

If you have questions or suggestions about these changes, please call or write John Starbard at (425) 587-3911 or jstarbard@kirklandwa.gov.