City hopes to provide spots for antiquities show at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Railyard’s new subterranean parking garage could get a trial run this weekend, with city officials hoping to provide space for attendees of the Santa Fe Summer Show at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.
Drivers won’t be able to sneak a peak inside the still-unopened structure: It’s strictly valet parking at $5 a pop throughout Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.
“We’re in the process of getting a temporary certificate of occupancy to open it so we can use it for the antiquities show,” parking division director Bill Hon said.
As for a permanent opening, the garage, originally slated to commence operations April 1, should be ready by Sept. 1, Hon said. The Railyard’s grand opening celebration is scheduled for mid-September.
Work must still be completed on the 404-unit facility’s “life support systems,” including the fire alarm, fire protection, ventilation and carbon monoxide systems. The structure’s elevators also need to be signed off on, and officials must make sure the stairwells are fully accessible, Hon said.
“Those are the things that have to occur before we can open with a full certificate of occupancy,” he said.
The structure actually opened for parking a few weeks ago for the opening of SITE Santa Fe’s “Lucky Number Seven” Biennial, Hon said, but crowds were lighter than expected, and the garage wasn’t used.
Although the city was given a temporary certificate of occupancy for that event, regulations required it to apply again for the antiquities show. As of Wednesday evening, the certificate had not been granted, although Hon was hopeful that would happen today.
In addition to the 404 underground spaces, the city is planning an additional 500 aboveground spots in the Railyard. Rates will be $1 per hour for on-street parking and $1.80 per hour for covered parking.
