City Centre Parking Garage Opens In Downtown Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — The new City Centre parking garage is now officially open with free parking until further notice, according to city officials.

City Administrator Carl Callahan personally removed the cones to the entrance of the garage during Saturday's heavy rains.

"As of Saturday morning, the downtown City Centre Parking Facility became what everyone has been waiting for — open," quipped city officials in announcing the opening Monday.

You can enter the new garage from 10th St. W on a two-way ramp, which leads to the second, third and fourth floors.

"The first floor of the garage is reserved strictly for Marriott SpringHill Suites parking, and access for hotel parking comes from Old Main Street, across the street from the hotel," city officials said.

The garage is open 24 hours a day. Drivers must observe parking lot rules, such as maintaining a slow and safe speed, parking between the white lines and not backing into parking spaces.

“We have always been confident that the parking facility will be part of a larger focus on downtown revitalization,” Callahan said. “It is a beautiful building, and when we fill retail spaces and maximize some other changes coming to Main Street, we will have an even more exciting downtown area.”

The parking garage is on 3rd Avenue from 10th St. W. to Old Main Street.

The project was designed by Fawley-Bryant Architects and built by NDC Construction.

Opening of the parking facility had been delayed by issues with the decorative sidewalk surrounding the garage.

"For the time being and likely through the end of the year, parking is free as a thank you to the public for patience during the construction process," city officials added.