Cultural Arts District Parking Structure

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Active Construction Updates

*Last Updated November 21, 2024.

Monterey Street will be closed on December 3 until 4:00 p.m. while we pour the next deck of the parking structure.

Periodic one-lane, two way traffic with flaggers on Palm Street throughout November as construction materials make their way onto site.

Estimated Dates for Concrete Pours Outside of Normal Working Hours (3:00 a.m. start times):
• December 3 and 19
• January 16 and 24
• February 10 and 26

Reasons why we are needing to work outside of normal business hours (early mornings):

• Avoiding Traffic – Early morning pours can reduce congestion from the large trucks entering and leaving the area.
• Time Crunch – Shaping the concrete is a time-intensive and tedious task that must be done with precision because concrete is a self-curing substance.
• Maintaining Workability of the Concrete – Being able to shape the concrete per plan is important to maintain the safety of the structure and cooler, early morning work allows adequate time for large concrete pours to form.

Note: Monterey Street and Palm Street will not be closed at the same time.

Illustration of a rendering of City of SLO's Cultural Arts Distrcit Parking Structure

Construction for this project began in Fall 2023 with the initial phases of lot demolition and soil remediation. This step paved the way for the subsequent stages of construction. The City hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in early November 2023, this event marked the mobilization of the project's parking structure general contractor, a milestone we eagerly anticipate. As we navigate the journey toward a revitalized Cultural Arts District, we anticipate the project's completion by the beginning of 2026.

Project Overview

History: Step into the future with us as we unveil the culmination of years of visionary planning and meticulous design. Since 2003, our vibrant City has been on a journey to create something truly remarkable: a fourth parking structure that not only meets the needs of our bustling community and downtown but also ignites the spirit of creativity and connection. Known as the Cultural Arts District Parking Structure due to its proximity to the History Museum, SLO Museum of Art, and the SLO Children’s Museum, as well as the future site for the SLO Repertory Theater, this structure will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will include short-term and long-term bicycle parking.

With plans for the SLO Repertory Theater and housing, in addition to the parking structure, this dynamic space will provide a backdrop for culture, community, and creativity to converge. The roof level has also been designed to accommodate special events with excellent views of both the Bishop and Cerro San Luis peaks and the outdoor courtyard will serve as a meeting place and provide a pedestrian connection to the Monterey Street corridor.

Benefits:

Increase downtown’s transportation options for community members, including vehicle parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and bike storage.
Increase public event space downtown.
Set the stage for a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly Cultural Arts District, including a new SLO Rep Theater.
Provide safe overnight parking options for downtown residents and provide much-needed parking options for new housing units that are planned for downtown.

Fast Facts

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Contact Us

For media inquiries, please contact the City Engineer, Brian Nelson, at 805.781.7113 or bnelson@slocity.org.

For public inquiries about construction activities, please contact Project Manager, Madeline Kacsinta, at 805.781.7094 or mkacsint@slocity.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click each question below to see the related answer.

FAQ Box

What is the cost of the Cultural Arts District Parking Structure project? How is the parking structure being financed?

The City is investing $52 million in this project to support downtown businesses and residents.

During the pandemic, the City did not charge for parking downtown to help support local businesses, which resulted in a $4 million gap in funding. Additionally, in the wake of the pandemic, construction costs increased and interest rates went up. To help offset these losses and costs, in 2022 the City Council voted to adjust parking rates incrementally over time.

To cover up-front costs, the structure will be debt-financed, meaning that there will be a long-term loan in place to pay for construction, and the City will repay that loan with interest over time using parking revenue. The City’s Parking Services department is an independent financial unit, so no tax revenues or other City funds can be used for parking projects or initiatives, including the financing of this new structure.
What are all the parking options in downtown?
Curbside and metered parking is available throughout downtown even while the City builds the new Cultural Arts District Parking Structure. Learn more about the City’s parking services like current rates, accessible parking, mobile apps and payment stations, and more. The City also has three safe and convenient existing parking structures located at the following addresses:
- 842 Palm St.
- 919 Palm St.
- 871 Marsh St.
What is the background on the Cultural Arts District Parking Structure? How is it related to SLO Rep Theater and the Arts community in downtown San Luis Obispo?

The City of SLO currently owns the surface parking lot (Parking Lot 14) in the west end of downtown, bordered by Monterey, Nipomo and Palm streets. The City is building a new multilevel structure on this lot to meet parking demand and steward this area’s future as the “cultural corridor” of downtown, as noted in the City’s Downtown Concept Plan.

The new structure will provide critical parking services for the future patrons of SLO Repertory Theater, SLOMA, the History Center, SLO Children’s Museum, and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa/Mission Plaza. SLO Repertory Theater has plans underway to build a new performing arts center (construction will start after the parking structure is complete, target opening is 2026-27), and SLOMA will resume its capital campaign in the future for a new building (target opening unknown).

For more information about the project, visit www.slocity.org/CulturalArtsParking.
Why is the City building a new parking structure?

San Luis Obispo’s downtown has three existing parking structures, and it's been nearly 20 years since the last structure was built. Since 2003, the City has collaborated with the community to evaluate and plan for a fourth structure, and a 2022 study illustrated that this structure is needed to meet both current and projected parking demand in support of a dynamic, accessible and sustainable downtown.

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