Civic Center Parking Structure Renovation

The Civic Center Parking Structure, located at 1416 Oak Street, was built in 2007 and has since provided public parking to support downtown Alameda. The facility serves local businesses, City staff and fleet vehicles, and includes amenities such as EV charging stations, bicycle lockers, parking validation for the Alameda Theatre, monthly permit parking, an elevator, and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible spaces on each level.

During construction, the facility will undergo renovation upgrades to improve safety, security, and overall functionality.

The scope of work includes installation of access control doors at ground-level vehicle entrances, pedestrian gates at entry and exit locations, and decorative paneling for open-air sections, enabling the garage to be securely closed during non-operating hours. Additionally, upper levels of the structure will be restricted to official City vehicles and secured with motorized gates and integrated access control. The existing parking guidance system will be replaced with a modern system to provide real-time occupancy data. Identified lighting fixtures will be upgraded to energy-efficient LED technology to enhance visibility and reduce maintenance costs. Interior wall and ceiling surfaces, including stairwells, will be coated with anti-graffiti paint to promote cleanliness, enhance visibility, and deter vandalism. In addition, the north and west-facing exterior surfaces will be painted. Repairs will also be made to the neon Civic Center marquee facing Oak Street.

The City is also addressing many physical barriers identified in its ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for this facility. Planned improvements include the addition of visual contrast markings at both stairwell treads, installation of detectable warning strips near elevator platform and stairwells, and modifications to parking stalls to meet length and van accessibility requirements. The project will also prepare to address electric vehicle charging accessibility.

November 2025: Contractor scheduled to mobilize and begin construction.

November 24, 2025: Press Release - City staff announce project update to the community.

October 31, 2025: Pre-Job Conference between Alameda County Building Trades Council, Contractor and City staff.

September 2, 2025: City Council awards a Construction Contract to Bay Construction, Co.

June 2, 2025: Bids due for the project.

May 2, 2025: City staff advertised an Invitation to Bid.

April 30, 2025: The City Building department approved and issues a Commercial Combination Building Permit.

October 24, 2024: The City Planning department approved design review.

September 24, 2024: City staff submit design review application to the Planning department.

September 3, 2024: City staff submit construction documents to the Building department for review and comment.

July 15, 2024: Press Release - City staff seek feedback from the community via short survey.

January 8, 2024: City staff and Architect begin design work for the Civic Center Parking Structure Renovation.

December 19, 2023: An Agreement is executed for Architectural Design Services, with International Parking Design, Inc.

June 20, 2023: City Council appropriates funds for this project in the FY23/24-24/25 capital budget.

Construction Schedule Summary (Updated March 2026)

Construction continues during normal weekday business hours and is being completed in phases to minimize disruptions and maintain safe access for the public.

The project timeline has been extended and is now anticipated to run through mid-to-late May 2026, primarily due to weather-related delays experienced at the start of construction.

We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding regarding temporary impacts to pedestrian stairwells and drive aisle areas, and we thank everyone for following posted signage and detours. We also apologize for the brief period when electric vehicle charging stations were unavailable due to ground floor painting. There are no additional outages planned for EV charging stations moving forward.

The facility should remain open throughout construction, though temporary pedestrian and vehicle detours will continue as needed. As part of this project, the City will also be upgrading the facility’s paid parking system, transitioning from a pay-by-space model to a pay-by-license-plate system. Under this new system, users will park first, note their license plate number, and then complete payment at a ground floor pay station or through a mobile option.

To support this transition, new signage will be installed throughout the facility, including reminders to “Remember Your License Plate” prior to payment. The City will also introduce mobile payment options, including the Park Smarter app and a text-to-pay feature.

During the system transition, there may be a temporary interruption to paid parking operations. During this brief period, parking will be free of charge, and parking enforcement will be temporarily suspended. This transition is expected to last less than one week, and advance notice will be provided.

At this time:
- No outages are planned for the elevator
- No additional outages are planned for EV charging stations

Drivers and pedestrians should continue to follow all posted signage and on-site directions. Please note that construction timelines may continue to shift slightly due to weather or material availability.


Late November – Early December 2025

Project Start & Preparations
- Contractor mobilization and site setup
- Submittals and shop drawings
- Initial demolition of select concrete and miscellaneous materials

Impact:
Minimal public impact during this phase.


December 2025 – March 2026

Interior Improvements
- Painting began on upper levels (5th–3rd floors) and progressed downward
- Work continued through lower levels (2nd–Ground floors)
- Interior painting activities extended through much of March

Impact:
Facility remained open; however, temporary floor and section closures occurred as work progressed.


January – April 2026 (Extended)

Exterior Work (Oak Street & CVS Area)
- Installation of detectable warning strips and pavement striping (ongoing)
- Exterior painting along Oak Street and CVS frontage (March–April)

- Pedestrian gate installation (ground floor) scheduled for early April
- Vehicle roll-up door installation anticipated in April

Impact:
Temporary sidewalk detours and narrowed pedestrian pathways may occur. Clear signage will be provided.


April – May 2026 (Updated)

New Paid Parking Systems and Signage

- Remove existing pay stations, install two new pay stations at ground floor elevator area.

- Update paid parking signage throughout facility.

Fencing, Gates & Security Improvements
- Construction of new fencing along CVS and Oak Street sides (beginning April)
- Installation of 5th-floor gate and fencing (April–May)

Electrical & Lighting Upgrades
- New first-floor electrical panel installation
- Electrical work from 2nd through 5th floors
- Installation of new lighting poles and fixtures

Impact:
Some exterior work areas will be temporarily restricted. No long-term closures are expected. Short, localized power interruptions may occur within the facility and will be communicated in advance. These will not impact lighting availability during evening hours. Paid parking may be inoperable for approximately one week; enforcement activities will not occur during this time.

End of April – May 2026

Project Completion & Demobilization
- Final striping, site cleanup, and removal of construction equipment
- Project completion anticipated by mid-to-late May 2026

Impact:
No impacts expected.

New Parking Technology Coming to the Civic Center Garage

The City is upgrading parking at the Civic Center Garage to a pay-by-license-plate system, making parking easier, faster, and more convenient.

This system, already in use on Park Street and at local ferry terminals, allows drivers to enter their license plate number at a pay station or through mobile payment options. No need to return to your vehicle to display a receipt.

What’s Changing
• Transition from pay-by-space to pay-by-license-plate
• Two New ground-floor pay stations will be installed
• Updated signage and decals throughout the garage [photo of actual sign below]
• Overhead reminders in drive aisles to “Remember Your License Plate”

How It Works
• Enter your license plate number at a pay station
• Pay using a credit card or mobile options (ParkSmarter mobile app or text-to-pay)
• Your payment is linked directly to your vehicle, no paper ticket required (receipts available at checkout)

During the Transition

As new equipment and signage are installed, there may be a temporary period when paid parking is out of service.
• When parking is out of service, Parking Enforcement will not occur
• Clear signage will be posted indicating when parking is not being enforced
• This transition period is expected to last no more than two weeks

Stay Informed

Signage throughout the facility will guide you during and after installation. Once the system is live, simply follow posted instructions and remember to enter your license plate when paying.

Demo Videos

While at the pay station: Pay By Plate

Mobile Option 1: Park Smarter App 

Mobile Option 2: Text-To-Pay

New Signage

1. When will construction take place?

Construction is scheduled from late November 2025 through late Spring 2026, with most exterior work occurring in March and April 2026.

2. What are the construction work hours?

All work will occur during normal business hours on weekdays.

3. Will the parking facility remain open during construction?

Yes. The facility will remain open throughout the entire project, though there may be temporary pedestrian and vehicle detours.

4. Will Permit Parkers still be able to park without receiving citations?

Yes. Permit Parkers may park anywhere in the facility without risk of receiving a citation during construction.

5. Will the elevators, paid parking system, or EV chargers be affected?

No outages are currently planned for the elevator, paid parking system, or Electric Vehicle charging stations.

6. What kinds of detours or closures should drivers and pedestrians expect?

Expect intermittent impacts, including temporary sidewalk detours, narrowed walkways, and short-term floor closures inside the building. All changes will have clear on-site signage.

7. What improvements are being made during the renovation?

Upgrades include:

• New pedestrian and vehicle gates
• Access control doors
• Decorative paneling for secure off-hours closure
• LED lighting upgrades
• New parking guidance system
• Interior painting and anti-graffiti coatings
• ADA improvements (warning strips, contrast markings, parking stall updates)
• Repairs to the Civic Center marquee

8. Will there be any power shutdowns?

Only short, localized interior power shutdowns may occur during the electrical upgrade phase (late Feb–mid March 2026). These will be communicated in advance.

9. Could the construction schedule change?

Yes. Weather conditions and material availability may cause schedule adjustments. Any updates will be communicated as needed.

10. When is the project expected to be completed?

The project is planned to be fully completed late Spring 2026.

11. I have general project questions. Who can I contact?

For any questions about the project, please contact:

Ricardo De La Torre
Project Manager, Public Works Department
Phone: (510) 747-7923
Email: rdelatorre@alamedaca.gov