GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — A new parking garage under construction next to the Alachua County courthouse is designed to serve courthouse visitors and employees, but some downtown business owners are asking county commissioners to open it to the public at night and on weekends.
The garage is still under construction and is not expected to be completed for about another 18 months. Business owners are asking county officials to consider how the parking spaces could be used outside regular courthouse hours.
The garage is expected to have more than 500 parking spaces across five stories. As of now, county plans call for the garage to serve the courthouse, providing parking for people visiting the courts, employees and others conducting county business…