MONROE - A deadline has been set and timelines are pending for replacing the current parking ramp structure in downtown Monroe.
On the advice of city staff, Mayor Bill Ross gave Common Council members until Sept. 1 to meet as a committee of the whole "to find a path that gets us where we need to go," he said.
So far, three options for replacement are on the board: A surface lot, a one-and-a-half-level ramp and a public-private, mixed-use development. Ross said other options or variations will be considered as they arise.
The Department of Public Works has laid out timeline scenarios for the various options.
The council could choose to build an at-grade, surface lot on the fast track for use as early as mid-September 2014 or, if built at a more leisurely pace, without or without bathrooms, by fall 2015.
But Ross does not believe a surface lot is what the city wants and expects that option will be discarded.
A one-and-a-half-level or two-level parking deck or an at-grade lot with a foundation for adding future parking decks would take until February or April 2015.
In any event, August 2016 is the date for finalizing construction, in time for use during the 2016 Cheese Days celebration.
Craig Patchin, a private developer, spoke Tuesday at the Common Council meeting, urging the members to consider a private development aspect in the project.
By building the parking facility about 30-35 feet back from 11th Street, small, retail spaces could be included, ideal for incubating start-up businesses, Patching said.
The additional retail space would help bring in tax revenues to the downtown Tax Increment District and draw people to the area just off the Square, Patchin added. He also recommended the facility, especially the west side, be made esthetic and artistic in design.
Whatever option the council chooses to do needs to be creative, Patching said, "so the solution brings life to that whole area and creates revenue, enough to fund the ramp."
Council members chose to hold one-hour meetings starting at 5 p.m. every other Monday, on the off-weeks of regular city meetings. Agendas and supporting information for each meeting will be available for downloading from the city website. The meetings are open to the public, and citizen input is welcomed.
On the advice of city staff, Mayor Bill Ross gave Common Council members until Sept. 1 to meet as a committee of the whole "to find a path that gets us where we need to go," he said.
So far, three options for replacement are on the board: A surface lot, a one-and-a-half-level ramp and a public-private, mixed-use development. Ross said other options or variations will be considered as they arise.
The Department of Public Works has laid out timeline scenarios for the various options.
The council could choose to build an at-grade, surface lot on the fast track for use as early as mid-September 2014 or, if built at a more leisurely pace, without or without bathrooms, by fall 2015.
But Ross does not believe a surface lot is what the city wants and expects that option will be discarded.
A one-and-a-half-level or two-level parking deck or an at-grade lot with a foundation for adding future parking decks would take until February or April 2015.
In any event, August 2016 is the date for finalizing construction, in time for use during the 2016 Cheese Days celebration.
Craig Patchin, a private developer, spoke Tuesday at the Common Council meeting, urging the members to consider a private development aspect in the project.
By building the parking facility about 30-35 feet back from 11th Street, small, retail spaces could be included, ideal for incubating start-up businesses, Patching said.
The additional retail space would help bring in tax revenues to the downtown Tax Increment District and draw people to the area just off the Square, Patchin added. He also recommended the facility, especially the west side, be made esthetic and artistic in design.
Whatever option the council chooses to do needs to be creative, Patching said, "so the solution brings life to that whole area and creates revenue, enough to fund the ramp."
Council members chose to hold one-hour meetings starting at 5 p.m. every other Monday, on the off-weeks of regular city meetings. Agendas and supporting information for each meeting will be available for downloading from the city website. The meetings are open to the public, and citizen input is welcomed.