Back in June, we first heard that the University Village shopping center was going to pause construction on a new six-story parking garage. Ironically, because the project meant closing off a section of the existing parking lot, merchants on the shopping center’s south side were taking a financial hit.

So the U Village powers-that-be decided to slap a slab on the project when it reached ground level, paint parking stripes on it, and resume work in January 2013, after the holiday shopping season. That’s now accomplished, but as you can see, people clearly don’t know about it. Parking is wide open.

University Village is famous for its free parking, and infamous for the time you generally spend circling the lot looking for a space. To breeze in at lunchtime and find several open spaces…it’s unheard of! We urge you to take advantage of this while you can, because the new parking area won’t stay secret for long.

Stores on the southern edge of the center, just to be obsessive, include: Seattle Sun Tan, Blue C Sushi, Cole Haan, Tommy Bahama, Paper Source, Sonrisa: Modern Mex (which has outdoor seating if the weather is clement), Tall’s Camera, Pallino Pasteria, Boom Noodle, Mrs. Cook’s, and Piatti’s.