New SLO parking structure has an official opening date — with free bonus to start
San Luis Obispo’s new $43 million parking structure is finally ready to open.
The garage at the corner of Palm and Nipomo streets is set to open to the public on March 17 — and it’ll come with free parking for a short time.
During the Downtown SLO association’s State of the Downtown event on March 2, city representatives confirmed that after the garage opens next week, drivers will be able to park in the new building for free for 28 days.
The Cultural Arts District Parking Structure has been taking shape at the downtown site since its groundbreaking in late 2023.
The five-story structure adds 397 parking spaces, 41 electric vehicle chargers, 32 bike racks and a new rooftop event space.
It also features a new technology for San Luis Obispo: empty space indicators.
According to the city, the new garage has installed lights that will be either red for occupied spaces of green for vacant spaces, making it more clear where people can park without excess driving around.
It will also be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It’s all a part of the city’s push to create a Cultural Arts District downtown, anchored by the parking structure and SLO Rep’s highly anticipated state-of-the-art new theater.
The structure will also act as a convenient place to park to visit some of the city’s downtown museums and theaters, such as the San Luis Obispo History Museum, the SLO Children’s Museum and the new SLO Museum of Art, which is expected to get under construction this year.
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