Officials from the City of Gainesville, Hall County Government and Carroll Daniel Construction held a ribbon cutting Friday morning for the new Gainesville North Parking Deck located just off the Gainesville square.
The deck is located at 100 Brenau Avenue, the site of the former Turner, Wood and Smith Insurance building.
Jess Hughes, project manager with Carroll Daniel Construction, said the $12 million project brings much-needed parking to the area.
"This is 410 spots of parking for downtown Gainesville, it's seven and a half stories depending on which side you enter," Hughes said. "We're currently finishing a walking plaza between the deck itself and Scott's building. It will have a water feature with green space for people to gather."
Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon said the parking deck is the latest in a series of developments meant to revitalize the downtown area.
"Downtown has been evolving in the last 10 years," Couvillon said. "Parking is needed because we have the vibrant downtown, now we have the facilities to help provide the parking for that vibrant downtown."
Couvillon said the new deck will help businesses on the north end of the Gainesville square, who felt like they were not being served by the deck on the other side of the square.
Couvillon, Carroll Daniel Construction CEO Brian Daniel, Hall County Commission Chairman Richard Higgins and Hall County Library System Director Lisa MacKinney all spoke during the ribbon cutting.
