A long-awaited, 640-space parking garage in downtown Haverhill is one step closer to opening, with the “topping off” of a major phase in the development.
The new garage, rising over its neighbors on Merrimack Street, recently reached a construction milestone with the completion of its exterior structure — an accomplishment that was celebrated during a “topping off” ceremony in June.
Angus Construction, the firm building the garage, met with Mayor Melinda Barrett and City Councilors Melissa Lewandowski and Ralph Basiliere at the celebratory ceremony. Angus Leary and Jake Chory, founder and superintendent of Angus Construction, stood among city officials and their crew. The group posed for photo opportunities beside their massive achievement; many of the construction workers gathered on the back of a flatbed truck, proud of their handiwork.
Once the outer frame was completed, all large equipment and heavy machinery were removed from the worksite.
The new parking facility will replace the Herbert H. Goecke Jr. Memorial Parking Deck, which stood before being purchased and demolished by Salvatore Lupoli and Lupoli Companies.
But the job is far from finished. Interior infrastructure work is now moving forward, and city officials say that the wait will continue before downtown visitors park there.
Economic Development and Planning Director William Pillsbury Jr. said that the garage cannot accommodate cars at this stage as the inside must be completed and up to code.
Regardless, a new phase in construction helps the city inch toward turning its downtown vision into a reality. As the garage takes shape, so too does the broader plan for a revitalized Merrimack Street, which is said to blend housing and retail into the heart of Haverhill.
It’s the latest accomplishment in a $160 million transformation of the downtown corridor, led by developer Lupoli. It’s a redevelopment that many have referenced as one of the largest in the city’s history.
“Parking was and is a key component of the total $160 million downtown project,” Pillsbury said.
The Merrimack Street Redevelopment Project is a monumental initiative that will include housing units, commercial space, and new infrastructure across several parcels of former city-owned land.
The development plans to feature about 50,000 square feet of mixed-use and retail space, driving customers and tourists to the district.
Construction on the garage began in the fall of 2024, and is expected to be done by late 2025, according to Pillsbury.