Construction Plans For Sacramento Kings Arena Squeeze Downtown Businesses' Parking
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Construction plans for a new Sacramento Kings arena are putting some downtown businesses in a tight spot, forcing them to compete for even more limited parking spaces underneath Downtown Plaza.
Nearly half of the 3,700 parking spots that are available now will be done once demolition starts in late July.
Gym-goers are worried about finding a convenient parking spot, while others are just hoping for the best.
The Kings owners and the city will start construction on the $477 million arena soon, and while the opening is still two years away, spaces underneath Downtown Plaza are starting to disappear.
"That's where the arena will sit and it's going to go down into the ground," said Sacramento Downtown Plaza Marketing Director Sarah Visconti.
The plaza has 3,700 spots, but only 1,700 will remain on the west end near Third Street. Underneath 24 Hour Fitness, only 300 will be available.
The loss in spaces has some worried businesses may close. 24 Hour Fitness and Sheikh Shoes say they won't close, and on the west end even more will stay open.
"Macy's, Century Theater, we have River City Brewing. We have 18 local stores that are still open on this end," Visconti said.
The city already stopped selling monthly parking passes last week., but daily parking is available, and parking validation is still available for shoppers.
Light rail, the bus and even biking are alternatives if you can't find parking.
The changes won't happen until the new striping of J and L streets in late July.