Blog: State Street Garage Blog

Downtown Parking Tip Sheet: Jan. 18

The City’s Communications team started this blog in the Fall of 2018 to help residents and visitors navigate growing pains related to the State Street Garage construction project, which will add 570 new parking spaces to downtown’s landscape by Summer 2019.

Monday, Jan. 21 marks a turning point in the construction project, as you can read in this media release. Thru traffic reopens on S. Central Street from Summit Hill Drive, making available many metered parking spaces along this corridor. However, State Street and its adjoining sidewalks will close as crews relocate the crane to initiate construction on the west side of the garage. During this period, the garage's elevators will be out of commission, and pedestrians will be met with a closed overpass walkway and detours on the nearby sidewalks.

In seeking alternative parking spots, downtown visitors are encouraged to use available resources, like the Parkopedia app or DowntownKnox.org/parking to find the many downtown lots, garages and on-street spaces that are free after 6 p.m. and/or on weekends. Garages include the City-owned Dwight Kessel, Locust Street, Market Square, Langley/Summer Place, City County Building and Main Street garages.

This weekend:

Friday: Knoxville Ice Bears vs. Huntsville Havoc. Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 7:30 p.m.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra presents The New World, featuring renowned violinist Tessa Lark, at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Legendary singer-songwriter Art Garfunkel performs at the Bijou Theatre at 8 p.m. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. at the Dwight Kessel Garage and the City County Building garage.

Theatre Knoxville presents On Golden Pond with performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. Plenty of free parking is available nearby under I-40 at the corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. Here's a map and directions.

Saturday: Valor Fighting Challenge 54 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 6 p.m.

Women’s March 3.0 will be held at Chilhowee Park. Parking will be free but limited based on crowd estimates of up to 15,000. KAT Bus Route 31 stops on Magnolia Avenue right in front of the park. Attendees are encouraged to carpool and find parking in the Zoo Knoxville and Jacob Building lots. To reach the March’s staging area in the park’s Midway, attendees will need to cross under Magnolia Avenue via the underpass.

Attendees are also encouraged to pack light, construct their signs with cardboard tubes (no wooden stakes, PVC pipes, metal or wire) and leave the following at home: outside food or coolers, umbrellas or anything that can be constructed as a weapon (including weapons). The site, which opens at 11 a.m. prior to the 2:30 program start with the march to follow, will host social justice organizations, kids’ activities, food vendors, a live DJ spinning tunes, and a Women’s March Coalition booth selling commemorative souvenirs.

Sunday: A Night with the Arts: A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. will begin at 6 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra collaborates with Carpetbag Theatre, Inc. and area poets and speakers, plus the MLK Holiday Choir. This event is free, and seating is first-come, first-served.

Monday: Portions of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue will be closed during the MLK Memorial Parade between 10 a.m. and noon. Parade participants can park at Overcoming Believers Church and ride KAT Bus shuttles to and from the parade stage area at the Midway Chilhowee Park between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

During the week: The Tennessee Theatre will have a busy week with Tedeschi Trucks Band on Tuesday, Jan. 22 followed by Violins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust on Wednesday and Thursday, plus a sold-out performance by Black Jacket Symphony on Jan. 25. Due to the limited parking in (and access to) State Street Garage, the City and the theater staff encourage patrons to arrive early with enough time to find parking in Dwight Kessel, Locust Street, Market Square Garage, or other nearby locations. On-street parking on S. Central Street will be available again when that street opens on Jan. 21.

Posted by ptravis On 18 January, 2019 at 5:48 PM