Joplin’s primary downtown parking garage at Sixth Street and Virginia Avenue will close for approximately nine months starting in spring 2027 for a $5.1 million rehabilitation project, a decision that has sparked significant concern among nearby business owners.
During a public meeting at City Hall, business owners voiced fears that the extended closure, coupled with ongoing roadwork on Seventh Street, could drive away customers and threaten their livelihoods. City officials, however, argue that major repairs to the 1960s-era structure are unavoidable due to deteriorating concrete and significant structural problems.
Joplin Public Works Director Dan Johnson acknowledged the disruption, stating that the garage has deteriorated to the point where “chunks of concrete that are falling off” are visible. He explained that the entire facility must close initially for safety reasons as contractors will remove much of the upper parking deck and repair structural components. Johnson noted that some affected areas could reopen sooner as work progresses, but most of the garage will remain closed throughout the project.
A contentious point raised by business owners, including Club 609, involved plans to reserve parking spaces for residents of the nearby Frisco Building. City officials explained these residential parking arrangements are tied to an existing agreement. Merchants questioned why residents would receive priority while local establishments face a loss of crucial customer parking, arguing that their businesses also depend on convenient access to remain financially viable. They also asked if the city had calculated potential losses in sales tax revenue if customers avoided downtown during construction.
Heather Ward, co-owner of Salon 529 on Main Street, stated her business already struggles with limited parking and relies heavily on nearby lots. Her co-owner, Catlyn Pink, warned that the garage closure would affect businesses throughout downtown, including accessibility for customers with disabilities. Ward urged the city to consider temporary diagonal parking to offset the loss of spaces.
Director Johnson responded that the option of diagonal parking on Main Street has been studied repeatedly and would create significant traffic problems. He explained that Main Street is a major north-south corridor and removing travel lanes would cause congestion during morning and evening rush hours. Despite this, some merchants disagreed, advocating for temporary parking changes to protect businesses.
Johnson noted that the city will continue examining alternatives but cautioned that a complete solution is unlikely given the number of displaced vehicles. He suggested that downtown customers may need to become more accustomed to walking farther, comparing it to people parking at a mall and walking much longer distances. Businesses also raised specific concerns about accessible parking and routes for customers with disabilities, to which Johnson acknowledged that access to some older buildings could be limited, but maintained that temporary restrictions are allowable during construction. He stated the project is expected to include protected access points for some businesses, and portions of Sixth Street may remain open for local traffic, deliveries, and trash collection.
Designed as a rehabilitation rather than a complete replacement to remain within the city’s available funding, the project will involve contractors removing nearly the entire upper parking deck, replacing some beams, and repairing or retrofitting supporting columns. Johnson acknowledged that construction costs have risen significantly since the initial budget was developed for the $5.1 million project.
Despite the concerns raised, Johnson affirmed that the city intends to continue communicating with affected property owners and businesses, promising to “look at options” and remain in contact with those most impacted.
