A significant portion of the surface parking at the Lewiston municipal parking lot, which is bordered by Bates Street, background, as well as Oak, Park and Ash streets, has been fenced off where construction will soon begin for the new Trinity Jubilee Center. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — With construction about to begin on the new home for the Trinity Jubilee Center on Bates Street, a large section of the municipal parking lot has been fenced off, awaiting a flurry of vehicles and, eventually, a new building.

In the coming years, tenants living in Lewiston Housing’s planned development along Ash Street will utilize the Oak Street Garage, which is located in the municipal lot and, along with other city garages, does not currently have its top level in use.

The new projects, along with other development planned, will no doubt add to the public parking needs in downtown Lewiston, but city officials say there is more than enough parking to meet future demand, and that the city can at any time reassess how it uses its parking garages.

According to Angelynne Amores, Lewiston’s director of marketing and communications, upper levels of the city’s garages are closed off when the demand isn’t there, allowing the city to reduce maintenance needs and potential security issues. Only one top level of the city’s five garages is in use.

“To optimize resources, the city employs a flexible approach to garage operations,” she said. “For example, the top floor of the Canal Street Garage remains open for use, while others can be reopened as needed, such as the Oak Street Garage during nearby construction projects.”

She said the top levels are still part of the city’s routine security monitoring of its garages.

“This adaptability ensures efficient use of infrastructure without compromising accessibility or security,” she said.

In 2022, the city contracted with Maine GuardSafe to oversee daily security operations at each garage, while the Lewiston Police Department conducts regular overnight patrols. Hiring private security came in response to concerns about the increased presence of homeless individuals and safety concerns for the garages’ patrons.

Asked specifically about the Trinity construction, Amores said surface parking is available and, if needed, the city would resume car access to the top floor of the Oak Street Garage.

Trinity’s new, 10,300-square-foot building at 123 Bates St. is expected to be complete in 2025. With the new facility, the center will expand its services to help those experiencing homelessness, hunger and other challenges, according to Director Erin Reed.

The top level of the Oak Street Garage, seen Monday morning, has been closed for several years, as have the top levels of several other city garages. But city officials say the space can be opened based on demand. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lewiston Housing received approval from the Planning Board in August for its 72-unit affordable housing complex at Bates and Ash streets. During the approval process, the development plan said there will be nine parking spaces on site for handicap accessibility and the remaining parking will be provided in the Oak Street parking garage and public parking lot.

Mayor Carl Sheline said he’s not concerned about upcoming projects impacting downtown parking, and the city generally has a large amount of unused space in its garages.

“We have plenty of parking downtown and I’ve been saying that since before I became mayor,” he said. “We have five downtown garages and plentiful street parking, all of it ensuring that any downtown destination is no more than a few steps away from available parking.”

Lewiston’s five municipal garages are the Centreville Garage on Canal Street, Chestnut Street Garage, Lincoln Street Garage, Oak Street Garage, and Southern Gateway Garage on Lisbon Street.

Last year, the city resumed charging fees in the garages after making upgrades, including structural changes and additional security like new cameras and lighting.

According to Amores, parking garage payment in Lewiston has increased since then by 81% due to the addition of parking gates.

“The parking facilities are designed to address both current needs and future growth and are strategically located to maximize accessibility,” she said. “The Lincoln Street Garage, for example, provides a convenient and central hub for events such as the Liberty Festival and Balloon Festival, while the Chestnut Street Garage supports the evolving needs of new residential developments like the Picker House Lofts and the Continental Mill.”