Published: May 15, 2008 01:43 am            

CITY OF LOCKPORT: Council decides parking ramp is coming down

The city parking ramp’s fate is sealed. The hulking, much-maligned structure at Main and Pine streets will be demolished, the Common Council decided Wednesday.

In their weekly work session, Mayor Michael Tucker obtained the aldermens’ blessing of a two-pronged Request For Qualifications document already prepared by the engineering department. The solicitation will test developer interest in one of two projects: Either the ramp is demolished and a mix of two-level underground parking and above-ground retail space is built in its place; or new underground parking is topped with a surface parking lot and a reworked Fountain Park.

“This is our one-and-only time to do something with the ramp,” Tucker said. “It’s the last remaining piece of Urban Renewal, and urban renewal is a dirty word around here. ... This is our chance to bury it.”

Issue of a Request For Qualifications encourages developers to signal their interest in a project. Based on qualifications, the city would winnow the list to a few worth interviewing. The developers’ insights on the differing proposals should help the Council decide which one to pick, Tucker said.

Testing outside interest in an either/or is Tucker’s way of bridging the still-unsettled question among aldermen about the wisdom of soliciting more retail space downtown. Fifth Ward Alderman John Lombardi said adding retail space is still his pick, but First Ward Alderman Richelle Pasceri suggested an even better use of the space might be a hotel. Alderman At Large Joseph Kibler said he’d rather see surface-lot parking, and Second Ward Alderman Amanda Alexander indicated she still hasn’t decided.

Fourth Ward Alderman Patrick Schrader, the only one who’d favored rehabilitating the existing ramp instead, said he wouldn’t try pushing that view any more.

“With (demolition) we run the risk of tying up Main Street for too long. ... It would scare people. But otherwise, I have no problem (rebuilding),” he said. “We just have to make a firm promise ... that we’re going to take care of it this time.”

Greenman-Pedersen Inc., the engineering firm that studied the ramp and estimated the cost of various degrees of rehabilitation, ultimately recommended demolition. The concrete ramp is permanently damaged from unchecked exposure to the elements, it said.

Tucker, who originally pitched the idea of the city soliciting retail development on top of an underground ramp, said he’s not at all wedded to the idea. If the council’s pleasure ends up being a surface lot, he suggested Fountain Park, the public space between the ramp and Urban Park Towers, be torn out also and the space redesigned to give public access to two hidden areas — one behind the existing ramp and the other behind the park — overlooking the Erie Canal. The park could be gated and loaned out on request for weddings and other functions, Tucker said.

“The overlook is a very important part of this. That’s a million-dollar view (from the overlooks) and right now, it’s wasted space,” he said.

The RFQ going out from City Hall will ask for expressions of interest to be returned within six weeks. Once the Council decides which option to pursue, a Request For Proposals would go out to turn up a winning bidder for the work. Tucker said he’s aiming for that to happen this summer — and ramp deconstruction to start possibly after Christmas.

Contact reporter Joyce Miles at 439-9222, ext. 6245.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.