What's next for the unfinished downtown parking ramp?

Olivia Bertino -

Simplified: The unfinished parking ramp at 10th Street and Mall Avenue will see some temporary updates until a new development partner can be found. Here's what the city's planning to do with the space until a permanent solution is ready.

Why it matters

  • The ramp has been sitting unfinished for years as the city was stuck in legal limbo with the project's initial developer. Earlier this year, that lawsuit settled, paving the way for the city to move forward with someone new.
  • In the meantime, the city wants to make temporary improvements for outside the ramp, including walking spaces, seating, murals, and space for food trucks. It's not yet clear what these temporary improvements will cost.
  • Moving forward, the city hopes to find a new development partner later this year, said Erica Beck, chief of staff for Mayor Paul TenHaken. Those decisions could happen as soon as October or November, with construction starting no earlier than fall 2023 in the "best-case scenario."
"It is exceptionally critical that when we solicit interest again, we are all on the same page, and we are all confident in what our expectations are," Beck said. "Because, quite frankly, the development community wants to know that."

So what's the temporary plan?

The plan includes finding a muralist to create a cohesive design for a 15 foot tall space that faces 10th Street, Director of Public Works Mark Cotter said.

  • The mural will be a partnership with the Sioux Falls Arts Council.
  • The city hopes for some donors to help with the cost of the mural, but no partners have been secured yet.

The city also wants to add a temporary painted turf for a gathering space as well, all of which will fit between 10th Street and the current facade of the building.

  • The plan includes spool table seating and space for small performances and lawn games.
  • The city also has access to some extra planters to add to the space.

The cost for the temporary project hasn't been determined as the city is still working with its partners to get a complete estimate. Beck said she will keep updating the City Council as they know more about cost.

What happens next?

Beck will present more information to the city council in July and September before they can create proposals for potential developers.

  • The city will get an appraisal of the current site over the next three months to eventually choose a private contractor to finish the build and make decisions about what will be done with the space permanently.
"Let's do it right, even if that means going slower," Councilor Greg Neitzert said.

There's no set timeline for the temporary improvements, and it's unclear where funds would come from, Beck said.