Duluth Demolishes Downtown Parking Ramps
Demolition of a privately owned and a city-funded parking ramp is underway in downtown Duluth, with costs rising on the city project.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Should Duluth keep spending city money to tear down old downtown parking ramps?
Demolition began on the privately owned U.S. Bank parking ramp on Michigan Street the week before November 10, 2026, with no city dollars going into the teardown. Duluth City Council also approved a $175,000 change order for the city-funded Shopper's ramp demolition, bringing that project's total to $3.2 million.
Why it matters
The Shopper's ramp project has grown well beyond its original $967,000 contract because of unexpected construction delays and other complications. The council's 7 to 2 vote signals continued city investment in clearing the downtown site.
The city's total bill for the Shopper's ramp project has reached $3.2 million, up from an original $967,000 contract after a $175,000 change order passed 7 to 2. The council has not indicated whether additional change orders will follow.
The players
Duluth City Council
The elected body of Duluth, Minnesota, which approves city contracts and change orders for public projects.
U.S. Bank
A national banking company headquartered in Minneapolis that owns the privately held parking ramp on Michigan Street in downtown Duluth.
The details
Connecting walls had to be shored up during the Shopper's ramp demolition, and spoilage from earlier construction projects was found in the ground. Another wall of the Shopper's ramp building began failing, a problem that was not predicted before the change orders.
Timeline
Week before November 10, 2026: Demolition of the U.S. Bank Ramp on Michigan Street began.
Monday night, week of November 9, 2026: Duluth City Council passed the Shopper's ramp change order 7 to 2.
Market Landscape
The clearing of two downtown parking ramps reflects Duluth's ongoing effort to revitalize its core, using city money where the structure is public and leaving private owners to fund teardowns of their own property. The rising Shopper's ramp bill shows how older downtown structures can carry hidden costs once work begins.
Downtown Duluth shoppers and drivers should expect the affected parking ramps to be gone as demolition proceeds. Taxpayers are covering the rising Shopper's ramp cost, which has reached $3.2 million.
The takeaway
Older downtown structures can carry hidden costs once demolition begins, and public projects may grow well beyond their first budgets. Residents following Duluth's downtown changes can watch council votes for further change orders on the Shopper's ramp project.
Further reading
Track other changes to downtown businesses in the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Northernnewsnow.
Live Poll
Should Duluth keep spending city money to tear down old downtown parking ramps?
