The City of Ithaca has closed the Seneca Street Parking Garage effective immediately in the interest of public safety after a report that concrete debris was falling from the third floor to the sidewalk below.

Fire Marshal’s office and City Engineering Department personnel inspected the location and found several other areas of the building’s façade severely deteriorated and at high risk of failure. A third-party engineering review will be conducted for overall safety.

Tioga Street, Seneca Street and Aurora Street sidewalks around the garage will remain closed until such time that it is safe to reopen them. The TCAT “Seneca at Commons” bus stop is also closed. Pedestrians are urged to heed posted signage and cross the street only at intersections where it is safe to do so.

Monthly permit holders and other garage users may relocate to the Green Street Parking Garage, where existing permits will be honored.

Garage users are urged to move their vehicles at their earliest convenience. The Tioga Street entrance will remain open for pedestrian access until all parked cars have been removed from the garage. Vehicles will be limited to using the Tioga Street exit. No new vehicle entry into the garage will be permitted.

For the latest transit updates related to this closure, residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the TCAT website at https://tcatbus.com/.

The City of Ithaca appreciates the public’s cooperation as it takes necessary steps to ensure safety.