Downtown Waukegan parking garage to close for repairs

Parking in downtown Waukegan is going to start taking a little more time, and a bit of luck.

Lake County officials are shutting down the 508-space parking garage connected to the courthouse building on County Street for at least three months beginning April 1.

"I don't think it is going to be as bad as people think it is going to be," said Wayne Motely, Waukegan city clerk. "It helps a great deal that the weather is warming up."

Lake County Administrator Barry Burton said some major concrete repairs will be made while the courthouse garage is closed. Burton estimated the work would be completed in 60 to 90 days.

During that time, Motley said, more handicapped parking spots will be added on the streets surrounding the county building, and the public can use four city-run lots downtown.

People serving jury duty are already advised to park in a city lot at Clayton and County streets, and 100 spaces will continue to be reserved for jurors, Motley said.

The city of Waukegan has struck a deal with Lake County to allot 535 parking passes in the Clayton Street lot.

The county will pay $40 per month, per car for the spaces.

Motley said Mondays through Wednesdays are very busy at the courthouse so the Clayton lot's 688 total spaces will likely be filled.

During those times, there are three overflow lots with a total of nearly 300 spaces. Two of the lots are at Sheridan Road and Clayton Street. The third is at the corner of Water and Sheridan streets.

The Clayton lot is free for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour, while the overflow lots cost 50 cents per hour.

Courthouse parking alternatives

Beginning April 1, the parking garage north of the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan will close for at least three months. The following are parking alternatives.

Parking lot

C: Clayton and County streets

D: Sheridan Road and Clayton Street

F: Water and Sheridan streets

O: Behind Genesee Theater on north side of Sheridan Road and Clayton Street

Costs

Lot C is free for the first hour and $1 each additional hour

Lots D, F and O cost 50 cents per hour.

Source: City of Waukegan