The City of Bloomington plans to demolish the Fourth Street parking garage early next year and build a new, larger facility in its place.

The garage is more than 30 years old.

Alex Crowley is director of Economic and Sustainable Development for the city. He says workers have made temporary repairs to ensure the safety of the garage, but a permanent solution is needed.

"We have to make a significant investment one way or the other," Crowley says. "The question is whether or not you try to maintain the existing structure or you do what you’re going to have to do eventually anyway, which is rebuild the thing."

In addition to the structural problems, the City wants a larger garage that can serve the new Monroe County Convention Center once it’s complete.

Crowley says the city tentatively plans to demolish the garage early next year. The entire construction process could take up to two years to complete.

The City of Bloomington will use a bond to fund construction of a new garage, as well as a new garage to serve the Trades District.

City Council recently approved sweeping changes to parking regulations, including eliminating all free parking in garages by 2021.