Telegraph-Channing Garage Restroom and Elevator Renovation

The Telegraph-Channing Garage serves the Southside community and visitors with a place to park their vehicle while they shop or dine nearby. It consists of ground-floor retail space, public and tenant restrooms, and five levels of parking accessible via two elevators. 

Constructed in 1970, the parking garage has seen several renovations including code and seismic upgrades. However, after more than 50 years of service, many building systems are nearing the end of their useful life or no longer meet current building standards. Key issues include:

• The elevators are frequently out of service due to aging equipment
• Restroom fixtures and finishes are outdated, difficult to maintain, and subject to vandalism
• The only accessible pedestrian entry to the garage at the Channing Way entrance does not meet current accessibility standards
• Lighting and signage are inadequate at both the ground floor and parking levels

The facility’s aging systems create challenges for community members and visitors who rely on the garage:

• Elevator outages reduce reliability and access for people with mobility issues
• Outdated restrooms are hard to maintain
• Insufficient lighting, signage, and accessibility limit easy access to the facility for visitors

The City is undertaking a series of improvements for the Telegraph-Channing Parking Garage to address these deficiencies. Planned work includes:

• Replacement of both elevator cars, machinery, and controls for improved reliability.
• Installation of additional lighting and protective bollards at elevator landings.
• Reconstruction of the Channing Way entrance from the ground floor entrance to the public sidewalk to meet current accessibility standards.
• Addition of new ADA-compliant signage throughout the facility to improve wayfinding.
• Renovation of the public and tenant restrooms with durable, easy-to-maintain finishes and vandal-resistant plumbing fixtures. Public restrooms will also include features to discourage loitering and drug use. 

Potential Impacts Due to Construction

While these improvements are underway, visitors and businesses should expect temporary impacts to access and facilities, including:

• Entry Closure: The Channing Way pedestrian entry improvement work was completed on October 31, 2025. New railings will be installed mid February, 2026.
• Elevators: Only one elevator will be in service at a time while the other is being modernized.  
• Restrooms: Public restrooms are open to the public, tenant restrooms are closed for renovations. One set of restrooms will remain available for tenant use at all times.
• Bollards at elevator landings: Work to install protective bollards at elevator landings on floors 2-6 will involve drilling through the concrete slabs between floors. Work areas above and below will be cordoned off and containment will be used to minimize spread of dust and debris. Access to elevators for visitors will be maintained.
• Noise, dust, and debris: Construction activities may generate noticeable impacts. Work areas will be clearly marked and separated, protective barriers and signage will guide visitors safely through the facility, and best practices will be utilized to minimize dust and debris.
• Construction Hours: Work will take place between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The garage will continue to operate on its regular schedule.

Project Timeline

Construction: April 2025 – March 2026

• Procurement: April 2025 – September 2025
• Mobilization Date: September 29, 2025
• Elevators:
  • 1st Elevator: September 29, 2025 – January 2026
  • 2nd Elevator: January 2026 – March 2026
• Restrooms:
  • Public Restrooms (2): October 20, 2025 – December 2, 2025
  • Tenant Restrooms (2): December 3, 2025 – January 9, 2026
• Accessible Entry at Channing Way: Completed October 31, 2025
• Bollards at Elevator Landings: November 19, 2025 – November 26, 2025

Funding

This Project’s contract construction cost is $2,098,860, with funding from Capital Improvement, Measure T1, and Off-Street Parking Funds.