Fayetteville Votes to Add Elevator to Deck That Has Never Had One

For years, people who cannot climb stairs have had no way to reach the upper levels of Fayetteville's five-story parking garage beside Segra Stadium. The structure has never included an elevator. On Monday, the Fayetteville City Council voted to move forward with building one.

The garage and its planned elevator were originally scheduled to be finished by October 2024. In July, the city sued the developers over the unfinished work. Councilman Shawn McMillan described two worries at the meeting: "Concern on two sides. One that we are going this long as a city without having ADA accessibility. For the parking deck across the street. But the other concern is about how much money we've wasted as a city, and years of failed development."

Accessible parking near the stadium is also scarce. Six handicapped spaces sit in front of Segra Stadium, and four of those face the building from across the street. Terry Mitchell, a resident with back problems, said he still makes the trip downtown at Christmas for the stadium light show. "I have back pain. an elevator will be a plus," he said, adding, "I think it's great. We need an upgrade."

Mayor Mitch Colvin put the delay on the original developer. "The developer just never was able to get their development off the ground. And as you know, we've talked about that. But what that has caused was that the city did not deliver to the taxpayers a completed project waiting on a developer that was never able to do it. And now a new party has emerged," he said.

The city voted last year to work with a different developer on a downtown hotel and high-rise apartment project. Groundbreaking was set for June 2026, and construction has not started. City officials are now recruiting a team to design and build the elevator, and bids remain open until November 24, 2026. The city said in a statement: "Whether people are heading to a Woodpeckers game, shopping downtown, or coming home to the Prince Charles, everyone should be able to get through the parking deck without a struggle. The elevator will make that possible for those who can't use the stairs." The final price and funding source have not been set.