Blewett Lot “pit” emerges as preferred site for new parking garage

LEAVENWORTH — Plans for a parking garage in downtown Leavenworth are beginning to take shape as the project nears the completion of its first phase: site selection.

During the Feb. 24 Study Session,  ARC Architects shared updates on phase one of the parking garage project, which included progress on site selection and feasibility analysis. Hired by the City of Leavenworth in August 2025, the firm came up with four possible design options for two different sites each, both of which would add a minimum of 200 parking stalls within a short walking distance of Front Street Park.

Four designs were sited for Aasgard and Blewett parking lots, which sit in between the Leavenworth Festhalle and US-2. The other four options explored designs at the Dragontail and Enchantment parking lots, which are located next to City Hall. The eight design options were optioned at the latest Community Engagement Night, where the public was able to comment on which designs and sites they liked and disliked.

The public overwhelmingly favored two design styles at the Blewett/Aasgard site, both of which were recommended by ARC Architects at the study session. For both of the designs, the higher, Aasgard lot would remain as-is, while the parking garage would be built on the lower Blewett lot, which is also referred to as “the pit.”

The $38.4 million design would reach 44 feet in height, offering 399 total stalls across four levels and the existing “subgrade.” Level four would have a roof with potential commercial space on the north side. It would have two pedestrian access points and five vehicle access points. 

The $36.2 million option would top out at 39 feet in height, offering a total of 324 stalls over three levels and the existing “subgrade.” The design would also be covered by a roof and include potential two-story commercial space and a pedestrian plaza.

Each design would require the complex retrofitting strategies to replace the existing retaining walls and piles around Blewett. Despite this, Jeff Wandasiewicz of ARC Architects said the public favored placing the garage on the pit rather than at the Dragontail/Enchantment site.

“Sending pedestrians across the highway was a non-starter for a lot. And I think that the fact that [the pit] is something that needs to be resolved either way, it was just kind of a natural fit in the public's mind,” said Wandasiewicz.

According to ARC Architects, the majority favored the $38.4 million design (61 total votes in favor), with 36 total votes for the $36.2 million option. The other six designs received a majority of votes in disfavor. The public also largely favored a stucco and timber design over stucco and murals, stone and timber and slatted wood.

No site plan was confirmed during the meeting. Rather, with options narrowed, Wandasiewicz said his team would narrow in on site plan and feasibility over the next couple months. Once confirmed, the firm would move forward with phase two: design.

Once the project reached construction phase, Wandasiewicz estimated that the project would take between a year and a year-and-a-half from the time of breaking ground to opening. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media