Anyone who looks at Warren's brand new, big blue parking garage might wonder if nearly all those spaces ­ 658 of them ­ will ever be filled.

That apparently is not going to be a problem, according to Warren Mayor Mark Phillips.
Phillips said last week, "Seventy to eighty percent of the spaces are already spoken for."

The 70 to 80 percent figure, said Phillips, is contingent on all the elements of "Impact Warren," including a riverfront hotel and townhouses being built.

"If everything is brought on line, seventy to eighty percent of the parking spaces in the garage are spoken for," said Phillips.

Downtown employers and employees have already asked for hundreds of spaces in the new Clark St. garage, said Phillips.

"There are still about one hundred spaces that we need to fill," said the mayor.

Reserved spaces in the garage, which will be open 24 hours a day, will be rented by the city for $35 per month.

Phillips said anyone interested in reserving parking may still contact the parking division of the City of Warren Police Department.

David See, Warren City Councilman, said the parking garage, being constructed by Perry Construction, is still on schedule to open sometime this month.

The parking garage's main entrance and exit for motorists will both be located on Clark St., although Clark St. will be realigned so that it is north of its present location.

The ramp has five levels ­ one at street level and four upper levels ­ and the design will allow drivers to "short circuit" and reach the main exit from any level.

On-street parking will not be eliminated in downtown Warren when the new parking garage opens, but the city's administration will continue to encourage that the on-street spaces be made available to short-term parkers who are stopping at downtown businesses and offices.

City police will continue to enforce the two-hour limit on parking in most business district parking spaces.