McHugh Construction completed a new public parking garage at 304 Hill St. in East Dundee, Illinois.
The $7 million design-build project — in partnership with Desmond Design — is the village’s largest infrastructure investment in years and officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 22.
The two-level concrete structure adds 163 total parking spaces to the popular downtown area, including a connected surface lot behind River Street Tavern and improved street parking along River Street. The garage also features 6,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, delivered as a customizable “gray box” and currently being marketed for sale by Premier Commercial Realty on behalf of the village for $500,000.
The design-build approach, led by McHugh and Desmond, enabled cost-efficient delivery while responding to evolving design goals. The garage features arched elevator tower windows and locally sourced blonde and red brick — a nod to the historic Hagar Brick Company that operated for decades nearby — to complement the village’s established architecture.
Additional project highlights include:
- Two EV charging stations in the adjacent surface lot
- Retail-ready “gray box” commercial space, available for future tenant buildout
- Relocated overhead utility lines, now buried to improve downtown aesthetics
- Delivery on time and on budget, despite scope changes during construction
- Local subcontractor participation, including McHugh Concrete and trusted regional trades
The May 22 celebration coincided with East Dundee’s first Thirsty Thursday street festival of the season, attracting hundreds of attendees to nearby River Street and showcasing the garage’s key role in supporting local events and businesses.
