Downtown Tyler parking garage now open

TYLER — The Smith County Parking Garage is open after a year of construction. Smith County officials held a brief ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 12, before opening the garage for parking.

“We are so excited to have this new five-story parking garage available for our employees and the community,” Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. “We thank everyone who came to downtown Tyler for work, business or fun over the past year for their patience and understanding during its construction.”

The 543-space parking garage is free and first come, first serve for county employees, jurors and the public. The parking garage is located at 210 East Ferguson, next to the Smith County Annex Building. Drivers can enter the parking garage from East Ferguson Street, which is a one-way westbound street, or Locust Street, which is a one-way eastbound street.

The first floor of the parking garage has several reserved spots for law enforcement. There are also 10 handicap spaces throughout the garage, on each of floors one through four, and there are two elevators. Smith County residents called for jury duty can park in the Smith County Parking Garage. However, the jury summons for November were already sent out before officials knew when the parking garage would open.

“We are excited to reach this Phase 1 milestone in our transformational construction efforts on the Smith County Courthouse project,” said Stephen Flournoy, project executive for Hoar Construction. “It is an honor to deliver this great five-story parking facility on time and under budget for the people of Smith County. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work hard on Phase 2 of this project for the new courthouse build.”

Dirt work for the new courthouse has been going on for weeks. Beginning, November 18, the former jury parking lot on Ferguson Street will be closed to allow Hoar Construction to use it for the construction project.

The $179 million Smith County Courthouse Bond passed with 53.73 percent of the vote November 8, 2022. The issuance of $160 million in bonds is for the new courthouse and $19 million for the parking garage.