The free public parking arrangement announced last month between the City of Falls Church and Kaiser Permanente “has been put on hold pending evaluation,” according to the City’s communications office.

The City announced in late December that the Kaiser Permanente parking garage, located at 201 N. Washington Street behind the medical building, would be open for free public parking in time for the City’s Watch Night New Year’s Eve festivities and that a six-month trial agreement for use of the 563-space garage on weekends and holidays would follow. According to the City’s communications office, Watch Night parking went well, but the free parking program has since been halted.

“While we expected that this agreement would be in place at the start of the year, there has been a delay in implementation while Kaiser undertakes final legal review of a licensing agreement,” said Rick Goff, the City’s director of Economic Development. “The City has signed off on the agreement, ordered free-standing signs to advertise free parking in the deck, and will widely promote the parking agreement once it is finalized.”

A similar free public parking arrangement remains at the parking garage at George Mason Square, 103 W. Broad Street, on Monday through Friday, 6 p.m. – 4 a.m., all day Saturday and Sunday, and all day on federal holidays.