Hermiston parking to get tight next week

By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 25th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – People who regularly use the parking lot between Hermiston City Hall and Banner Bank need to find an alternative. It will close on Tuesday for a complete reconstruction.

“We’re going to see a significant parking crunch here in the next couple of months, but once we come out the other end of it, I think everyone will be very happy with the increase in available parking downtown,” Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said. “We hope to reopen the parking lot fully to go back to 100 percent utilization by downtown businesses and visitors in June.”

The parking lot reconstruction is part of the city hall project. Morgan said there will be inconveniences like the parking lot closure throughout the process, but in the long run the city will benefit. “Rebuilding that parking lot and also rebuilding a parking lot to the east of the former city hall building ultimately will add parking downtown,” he said. “I think we’ll end up with about a 15 net increase in parking spaces once we’re all said and done.”